#Spider is terrorizing the RDA

[lortsyall]

Echoes of Eywa's Child.

chapter 2.

(Neteyam x Human!Reader series)

Pending...Pending...

Date: August 10th,2174.

Location: Marui,High Camp,Mons Veritatis,Hallelujah Mountains,Pandora.

Time: 1:56 PM.

Life had always demanded more of me. As the eldest son of Toruk Makto the 6th, I was born into expectations as heavy as the mountains, molded by a legacy I had no choice but to carry. For as long as I could remember, my path was laid before me—protector, warrior, leader,big brother. It was a path carved in blood and sacrifice, one I couldn’t veer from even if I wanted to.

The war had changed everything. When the RDA returned when I was only 15,four years ago, they came with the same greed, the same hunger to strip Eywa’s creation of its breath. Their machines burned forests and poisoned rivers, their soldiers brought death with cold precision. But the war wasn’t just an enemy out there—it had carved itself into me.

I’d come closer to death than I care to admit. Fleeing to the Metkayina clan with my family,away from Quaritch and his puppets,was traumatizing,to say the least.

I always fit in the Omatikaya clan. I was already respected by so many clan leaders across the globe,already seen as a strong-willed,responsible and noble young warrior. The perfect next Olo'eyktan in line. But here...at sea...I was too stubborn to learn the ways of the Metkayina,scared I might lose myself. My ancestors. My traditions. The forest...Everything.

Sooner or later though,you always have to wake up back to reality. The RDA’s ships had pursued us relentlessly, their weapons tearing through the sea and air like the rage of a storm. After saving my siblings and our friend,Tsireya,my brother insisted on saving Spider as well.

I'll admit,I followed my mother's steps in distancing myself away from him as the years went by,though the brotherly bond we have carried ever since childhood lingered like a lost memory. Plus,I couldn't deny Lo'ak anything. Not in that moment.

As soon as we turned our backs to jump into the water,though...I felt it.

I’d hit the water hard, the force ripping the breath from my lungs. I fought to surface, but the panic, the crushing weight of the sea—it almost won.

All I could hear were Lo'ak's desperate cries pulling me on an ilu as he dragged me back to shore,along with the others. When I woke up, the first thing I felt was pain—white-hot and searing, burning across my chest where shrapnel had torn through flesh. The Tsahìk saved me, but she couldn’t erase the scar, jagged and cruel, that now ran from my collarbone to just above my heart,nor the memory that came with it. A bitter reminder of how close I’d come to losing everything.

That scar has stayed with me, a mark of survival, but also of failure. I should’ve been stronger, faster, better. I’m alive, but at what cost? The memory of my siblings’ terror, my parents’ fear—it’s a weight I still carry, even in moments of peace.

Sometimes,I still hear my mother's screams late at night. It's terrifying.

And now, the war feels like a constant shadow, lingering even in the quiet. I’ve learned to keep my thoughts guarded, my fears buried. We're back in the forest,thankfully,but we still live in the Hallelujah Mountains. The clan looks to me for strength, for guidance. They see a warrior who has proven himself time and time again. They don’t see the cracks beneath, the moments when I wonder if I’ve given too much of myself to a fight that may never truly end.

I’m of age now. Been for some time. I went through all the rites of passage,starting with becoming the youngest Omatikaya to make a clean kill on the Sturmbeest hunt,going through Iknimaya,and surviving Uniltaron,the Dream Hunt. After transferring into adulthood, an Omatikaya Na'vi has two things left to do: craft a bow from the wood of the fallen Hometree,and find a mate. Yet I've checked only one thing on the list,and I guess it's obvious which one I'm talking about.

I get it. I'm 19 years old now. Old enough that the elders murmur about a mate, about settling down and adding to the clan’s numbers. My parents don’t pressure me—at least not directly—but I see it in my father’s proud nods, my mother’s quiet glances. They’re waiting for me to choose, to find someone who will stand beside me as I carry the mantle of our people. Not to mention,my brother has already been mated to Tsireya,and some people among the clan are...nosy, to say the least.

But how can I think of mates when my mind is a battlefield? When every time I look at the stars, I see the faces of those we’ve lost? Love feels like a luxury I can’t afford, a vulnerability I can’t risk. I can feel my father breathing down my neck,slowly preparing me with Olo'eyktan training. I don't even want to be the next chief. Not anymore. I’ve buried the idea so deep within me that even the thought of connection feels foreign,and I can't remember the first time I really opened up to someone. They already have their image of me.

Fierce young warrior. Next chief in line. Son of Toruk Makto. Great,right?Why should I ruin that for them?

And yet, there’s a part of me that wonders—when will I be more than this? When will I be something more than a protector, more than a warrior? Is there space for Neteyam beneath the weight of it all?

The air was thick with the smell of burning metal and the acrid tang of gunpowder. Around me, the sounds of battle echoed through the forest—the hum of RDA machinery, the snap of Na’vi bows, the shouts of humans and my people alike. My heart pounded in my chest, not from fear, but from the weight of responsibility.

My feet barely made a sound as I landed on the roof of the human truck. Beneath me, I could hear their muffled voices, panicked and sharp. They were scrambling, caught off guard by our ambush. Good.

I moved to the edge, my bow drawn and ready, scanning for my next target. That’s when I saw…her.

She was crouched behind a crate, her wide eyes darting around in terror. Her skin was almost glowing in the dim light, and her hands trembled as they gripped a human weapon. She was small, fragile even, compared to the others.

A soldier, perhaps? No, she didn’t move like one. She was scared, out of place. A tablet was in her small and dainty fingers,and it looked oddly familiar,like the ones Max and Norm usually toy with in the lab. So a scientist,then. Doesn’t matter.

I drew my bowstring tighter, the arrow poised to fly. My target was clear, my purpose steady. Until I saw it.

An atokirina.

The seed of the sacred tree floated gently down, its soft glow cutting through the chaos. My breath caught as it hovered near the girl, circling her like it was studying her. And then it landed, just for a moment, on her shoulder. Didn’t this happen to my parents when they met?

Eywa was watching. Yet the girl didn’t notice.

I hesitated, my fingers loosening on the bowstring. This wasn’t normal. The atokirina didn’t just appear without reason, and they didn’t linger around those unworthy of Eywa’s blessing. Yet here it was, touching her—a human.

Her gaze was fixed on the ground, her breathing shallow. She had no idea the seed was there, no idea what it meant,too focused on her own panicked heavy breathing.

The voices of the other warriors faded into the background. For a moment, it was just her, the glowing seed, and me.

I lowered my bow.

I could hear my father’s voice in my head, a memory from years ago: "Eywa sees more than we do, Neteyam. Sometimes, the why is not ours to understand."

“Drop it,” I said, my voice steady despite the conflict brewing inside me.

She looked up, startled, her eyes locking onto mine. Great Mother,what pretty eyes she has. It’s as if I could see her entire soul through them. For a second, I thought she might try to fight, but instead, she set the weapon down on the truck bed. Slowly, carefully.

I studied her. She was different from the others—softer, quieter. And yet, there was something in her eyes that spoke of a hidden strength. And me?Well,let’s just say there was something almost…ethereal and noble in her fear that made me admire her.

“You do not belong here,” I said.

Her lips parted, as if she wanted to respond, but no words came out. The atokirina hovered again, as if to emphasize my point, before drifting off into the trees.

I couldn’t explain why, but I felt a strange pull toward her. Not sympathy—not yet—but curiosity. Eywa had chosen her for something, and it wasn’t my place to question the will of the Great Mother.

The sound of an AMP suit crashing nearby snapped me back to reality.

“Run,” I urged her, my voice low.

“What—”

“Go!” I barked, the command sharper now. She flinched but obeyed, scrambling off the truck and disappearing into the chaos. I cannot let the others see her,or she’ll get an arrow straight to her heart. The Great Mother put this responsibility in my hands,and I simply cannot let her get hurt. It must be a sign.

When the ambush was over, I retreated with the others, my thoughts still tangled around the human girl. The site was a mess,but at least we did what we had in mind. All of their cargo was either destroyed or stolen,and I doubt they won’t send out search parties for our heads.

Back at our camp, I sat by the fire, staring into the flames thoughtfully. Their dance was mesmerizing, a kaleidoscope of amber and gold licking against charred wood, with hints of blue at the edges where the heat was fiercest. The fire cracked and hissed, tiny sparks shooting upward to join the stars above. It felt alive, almost like Eywa herself whispered through its flickering rhythm.

Yet, even as the flames captivated me, my thoughts were elsewhere. On her. The girl in the forest.

Her scent still lingered faintly in my memory, something soft and sweet, like flowers I couldn’t name mixed with earth after rain. Her big eyes had been filled with fear, yet there had been something else too—curiosity, maybe? Defiance? I couldn’t decide which had unsettled me more. Her delicate frame, so unlike the strength we Na’vi pride ourselves on, seemed breakable, yet her spirit shone through her trembling form.

And then there was the atokirina. A single seed of the great tree had floated between us, its gentle glow bathing her face in an ethereal light. It had hovered briefly, as though weighing something unseen, before drifting closer to her. The moment felt... significant, as though Eywa herself had chosen her. Funny how she did not even notice such a blessing.

I had been ready to draw my bow, my duty clear in my mind. Sky People were a threat. A poison. It doesn’t matter that I share both human and Na’vi ancestors. Neither does the fact that my dad was one of them once. In my eyes,he is Na’vi. Just as everyone part of the Resistance. Yet the sight of her—so pure, so deliberate,so…utterly chaotic and scared—lingers in my thoughts. Something in me shifted then, a quiet nudge deep within my soul. I let her go, even when I knew my parents would question my decision.

Now, as the fire crackled before me, I couldn’t help but wonder: who was she? Why did Eywa send a sign? And why did I feel as though letting her go had set something far greater into motion?

The camp was buzzing with movement. The humans part of the Resistance were all in the biolab quarters, tending to their Avatars’ wounds. Lo’ak, my younger brother, plopped down beside me, his usual smirk replaced by a look of concern.

“You’re quiet,” he said, poking at the fire with a stick. “Sa’eyla said some shit went down. Something happen out there?”

I hesitated. “There was a girl.”

He raised an eyebrow. “A girl? Like, a human girl?”

“Yes,” I said, my voice firm. “And Eywa sent an atokirina to her.”

Lo’ak looked at me, confused, the stick in his hand forgotten. “What do you mean?”

I let out a loud sigh. Why is this interaction with her bothering me so much? “Just as I was ready to fire my bow, an atokirina landed on the head of this tawtute eve. As if telling me to lower my bow.”

“Are you serious?”

“I am.”

He let out a low whistle. “Well, that’s... something.” He leaned closer, his voice dropping. “What are you gonna do about it?”

I shook my head. “Nothing. For now. It’s not like I can do much, anyway.”

“Sounds like someone’s already in over his head,” came Kiri’s teasing voice as she approached from the shadows. She carried a bundle of herbs, her expression curious. “What’s this about an atokirina?”

Lo’ak smirked, scooting over to make room for her by the fire. “Our big brother here almost got bested by Eywa’s will.”

Kiri raised an eyebrow, sitting down. “That sounds interesting. Go on.”

I hesitated, but I knew Kiri’s connection to Eywa might help make sense of this. “There was a human girl. She wasn’t like the others—she didn’t fight. And an atokirina came to her. It lingered above her head. Right as I was about to…to kill her.”

Kiri’s expression turned thoughtful. She set the herbs aside, her hands resting on her knees. “Eywa does not make mistakes, Neteyam.”

“I know,” I said, frustrated. “But why her? She’s... she’s one of them. I have no idea why it’s bothering me so much. It’s like a buzz in my head.”

Lo’ak snorted. “Maybe the Great Mother’s matchmaking now.”

“Lo’ak,” Kiri said sharply, shooting him a look that silenced his grin. Her attention returned to me. “Eywa sees the heart, not the body. Maybe this girl is different. Maybe she’s meant to change something.”

I frowned, staring at the fire as its light danced across the darkened camp. “But how can I trust that? How can I trust her? I don’t even know her name and yet…” I hesitated, running a hand down my face. I really don’t need another teasing remark from Lo’ak.  “Gosh, I don’t even want to think about it anymore. Forget it.”

Kiri smiled faintly, her voice soft. “Sometimes, Eywa doesn’t ask for trust. She asks for faith.”

Lo’ak leaned back, looking between us with a sly grin. “Well, sounds like you’ve got a lot to think about, bro. Or maybe, you’re just scared of a tawtute girl.”

I shot him a glare, but Kiri nudged his arm before I could retort. “Leave him alone, Lo’ak,” she said, her tone amused but protective. “This isn’t something to joke about.”

Her gaze returned to me, her expression serious. “Whatever it is, Neteyam, trust that Eywa will reveal it in time. You’ll know what to do when the moment comes.”

And as the fire crackled between us, I couldn’t help but feel the weight of her words. Whether I was ready for it or not, my path—and hers—was no longer just my own.

In the days following the ambush, my thoughts lingered on her. I hadn’t told my parents yet. My father, Jake, carried enough weight on his shoulders. Every decision, every strategy, every skirmish—it was all for the survival of our people. He didn’t need my confusion about a single human clouding his focus. And my mother, Neytiri… she wouldn’t understand. Her hatred for the sky people ran deep, forged in blood and loss, and for good reason.

But I couldn’t ignore it.

One evening, I couldn’t sleep. Tossing and turning in my marui,only to be kept awake by my own thoughts. I hated whenever this happened. When no position was comfortable,my skin felt on fire and I would get more annoyed and tired by the second. I got up and slowly made my way through the campgrounds,passing by people alike,lost in their dreams.

What I’d do to be in their place.

Calling for my ikran, I waited as she descended gracefully, her form blending seamlessly with the star-speckled sky. When she landed, I took a moment to rest my forehead against hers, finding comfort in her steady presence. Together, we soared into the night, the cool wind sweeping away some of the weight on my chest.

Our destination was inevitable: the remnants of Utraya Mokri.

Once, long before I was born, this was the site of the great Tree of Voices—a place of profound connection where our ancestors’ memories thrived. But during the war, the humans came and destroyed it, severing that sacred link. In its place, saplings had begun to grow, fragile yet persistent, spreading slowly across the scarred land. They shimmered now, soft bioluminescent light dancing in the dark. It was a bittersweet sight—proof of Eywa’s resilience, but also a reminder of what had been lost.

I landed and dismounted, walking to the center of the grove. The soil was cool beneath me as I sat cross-legged, surrounded by the glow of the saplings. Gently, I wrapped the tendrils of a sacred vine around my queue, seeking solace in even the faintest connection. It wasn’t strong enough to download memories or speak with the ancestors, but it was something—a tether to Eywa. And maybe, just maybe, she would hear me.

The connection came swiftly, a wave of warmth and calm coursing through me, easing the storm within. I closed my eyes, lowering my head.

“Great Mother,” I whispered, my voice trembling. “Why her? Why a sky person?”

The forest seemed to exhale, its life humming softly around me. The glow of the saplings pulsed gently, as if in answer. I tried to silence my doubts, to push past the fear and confusion. My father had always told me to trust Eywa, even when her ways seemed inscrutable. But this... this felt different.

A memory surfaced unbidden—my father’s voice from years ago. He had been telling us about how Eywa had chosen him, a human, to unite the clans. “Eywa doesn’t see as we do, Neteyam,” he’d said. “She sees balance. Potential. She sees what we cannot.”

A force for balance,maybe. For something greater than I could comprehend.

The thought brought both comfort and unease. I opened my eyes to the glow of the saplings, their light steady and unyielding.

“Help me understand,” I murmured, my words barely audible. The forest around me thrummed once more, but no answer came—at least, not in words. Yet the stillness wasn’t empty. It carried something intangible, something that settled in my heart.

Perhaps the answer would come in time.For now, it would have to be enough.

The jungle was alive with its usual symphony of sounds—the distant calls of viperwolves, the rustle of leaves as a gust of wind swept through the trees. But my focus was razor-sharp, every movement of my body calculated as I followed the humans' trail.

Our scouts had reported another transport heading deeper into the forest, likely bringing more machines or weapons.My father had been clear: Observe, but do not engage. Watch, learn, and then strike if the time is right.

I crouched on a thick branch, hidden by the foliage, my bow resting lightly in my hand. Below me, the humans moved in a tight formation, their vehicles rumbling loudly and their voices carrying through the air. Among them, I saw her again.

She wasn’t dressed like a soldier. Her clothing was simpler, and she carried a small device in her hands, her gaze flicking between it and the terrain around her. She looked… out of place, as though she belonged somewhere quieter, somewhere far from the chaos of this world.

The same tug I’d felt during the ambush returned, stronger this time. But I forced it down.

She’s one of them.

And yet, I couldn’t look away.

We shadowed them for hours, moving through the trees as they trudged through the undergrowth. They stopped occasionally, setting up equipment and scanning the area. The girl seemed focused on whatever task she had been assigned,a small fierce nature in her body, but there was a tension in her posture, a hesitance in her movements.

As the group reached a clearing, my father’s voice came through the earpiece we used for communication.

“Pathfinder, fall back. Let them move on.Over.”

I hesitated. Something wasn’t right.

“Neteyam,” my father’s voice was firmer now. Shit. “Do you copy?”

“Yes,father.” I replied quietly. But I didn’t move.

The attack happened so fast, even I didn’t see it coming.

Viperwolves, drawn by the noise of the humans’ machines, erupted from the shadows. Their snarls shattered the fragile quiet, and the humans scrambled into action, shouting and firing their weapons. Chaos consumed the clearing, the air thick with smoke, fear, and violence.

And in the middle of it all, I saw her freeze.

Her wide eyes darted around, her body stiff as stone. She didn’t run, didn’t fight. Instead, she crouched low, pressing herself against a fallen log, trying to make herself invisible as the chaos surged around her.

I should’ve left. I should’ve followed my father’s orders, retreated into the safety of the trees. But the sight of her, small and vulnerable, anchored me in place. I couldn’t leave her.

Before I realized it, I was moving.

I landed silently behind her, my bow slung over my shoulder as I unsheathed my knife. The viperwolves hadn’t noticed her yet, but it wouldn’t be long before they caught her scent. I could see their noses twitching at the foreign human scent.

“Move,” I whispered, my voice low but firm.

She whipped around. For a moment, she didn’t react, her mouth opening slightly as if to say something. I could see it in her eyes. She recognized me.

“Holy shit,you–”

“Now!” I hissed, grabbing her arm and pulling her up.

She stumbled but followed, her legs moving awkwardly as I led her away from the clearing. The sounds of gunfire and snarls faded as we put distance between ourselves and the fight.

The forest was eerily quiet now, the aftermath of the viperwolf attack leaving a tense stillness in the air. She stood there, staring at me with wide eyes, her breaths coming fast and shallow. I could see the tremor in her hands, the slight quake of her legs—fear, exhaustion, or both.

I didn’t know what I was doing. Eywa’s will tugged at me like a strong current, the memory of the atokirina circling her vivid in my mind.

I raised a hand to my throat comm, pressing it lightly as I spoke in Na’vi. “Eagle Eye, I have a situation,over.”

“Holy shit,dude!Where’d you disappear?Over-” My brother’s voice came through, laced with confusion. I figure he fled back with the others. “What’s going on?”

“I found that girl again. The one I told you about. I’m taking her back to camp. Go on without me.Over.” I said, my words clipped. I’ll never hear the end of it.

“What?” Lo’ak’s shock was evident, his voice rising. “Why would you—”

“I’ll explain later. Tell Father and Kiri to meet me. And be ready. Over and out.”

Before Lo’ak could respond, I cut the connection and turned back to the girl. Her gaze flicked between me and the trees, as if she was debating whether to run.

“You’re coming with me,” I said firmly.

Her brow furrowed. “What? No, I—”

I didn’t give her a chance to finish. Stepping forward, I grabbed her wrist—not hard, but enough to guide her—and began leading her through the trees,calling for my ikran. She struggled against my grip.

“Let go of me!Are you fucking insane?!Why did you–” she hissed.

“We need to move,” I said sharply,cutting her off. “The forest isn’t safe for you.”

“Yeah,no shit.” she bit back,panic present in her tone. Does she think I’m kidnapping her?

When my ikran came to us, the girl froze, her eyes widening at the sight of the massive, winged creature. It let out a low growl, its sharp eyes narrowing at her.

“No way,” she said, shaking her head. “I am not getting on that thing.”

“You don’t have a choice,” I said, swinging up onto the ikran’s back and reaching down for her.

She hesitated, but when the distant laugh of a viperwolf echoed through the trees, she grabbed my hand and let me pull her up. She’s so light.

“Hold on,” I said, guiding her arms around my waist.

She muttered something under her breath, but she obeyed.

With a sharp call, I urged my ikran into the air, the wind rushing past us as we soared above the forest.

The Hallelujah Mountains loomed ahead, their floating peaks glowing faintly in the evening light. I focused on the flight, trying to ignore the growing tension I felt with her pressed against my back.

It wasn’t until we began our descent toward the high base that she spoke.

“You think I don’t understand you?”

Her voice, so sudden, startled me. She was quiet the entire ride and now she speaks?

I twisted slightly to glance back at her, my eyes narrowing. “What are you talking about?”

“When you spoke earlier, in Na’vi. I understood you. You’re taking me back to...to torture me or what?!” she said, her tone biting,but I could sense the fear and tremble in her tone. Feisty little thing.

My heart skipped a beat. She understood? How?

“You speak my language?” I asked, my voice sharp with disbelief.

“You didn’t answer my question!” she snapped, her grip tightening on my waist as the ikran dipped slightly. Fuck,I’m getting lightheaded with the way her tiny hands grip my waist like that. “Why does it matter? Why am I here?”

I didn’t answer immediately. We landed on a wide platform near the high base, the soft thud of the ikran’s claws echoing against the rock. She climbed off quickly, putting distance between us as she glared at me. How do I even explain to her?

“Tell me,” she demanded, her voice rising. “Why did you take me? Why didn’t you just leave me there?”

I slid off the ikran, keeping my gaze steady on hers. “You would have died.”

“I could’ve handled it!” she said, her voice trembling with frustration. Yeah,right. Surely you would have handled dying,little tawtute. “I didn’t ask for your help!”

I took a step closer, my expression hard. “And yet,you were frozen. If I hadn’t acted, the viperwolves would have torn you apart.”

Her anger faltered, and she looked away, her fists clenching at her sides. “I didn’t need saving.”

“You don’t understand this world,” I said, my voice softening. “It’s not like Earth. It will kill you if you’re not careful.”

She looked back at me then, her eyes burning with a mix of anger and something else—something I couldn’t quite place.

“Then why not leave me there?Away from the attack.” she asked quietly. “Why take me with you?”

For a moment, I didn’t know how to answer. The truth was tangled up in feelings I didn’t fully understand myself—in the memory of the atokirina, in the way Eywa seemed to whisper through the forest that she was important. In the way I felt when I stared into her eyes.

“Because we need intel from inside the RDA. And you seemed like a good fit,you know. Small,feisty scientist who didn’t show any signs of a threat. ” I lied, the words slipping out before I could stop them,though I kept a certain amount of smugness in my teasing.

Her brows furrowed in confusion,almost as if she was…offended. “What are you talking about?”

I hesitated, debating how much to tell her. I pet my ikran before I started walking into a cave. “You wouldn’t understand.”

“Try me,” she said, crossing her arms.

Gosh,she’s so infuriating. Maybe I should have left her with the viperwolves. I turn around to her,simply cross my arms in defiance,towering over her small stature with a silent smirk. For a moment, she was observing, her gaze searching mine. I'm too stubborn to talk further. Plus,she's...pretty like this. She let out a sharp laugh, shaking her head. “You’re insane.”

“Maybe,” I said, a faint smile tugging at my lips. She’s got jokes,huh. I like that. “Takes one to know one.”

Her laughter faded, and she looked at me with an expression I couldn’t quite read. “What happens now?”

I straightened, my resolve hardening. “I…don’t know. We’ll figure it out once we get there.”

She didn’t argue this time. Instead, she simply nodded, her shoulders slumping slightly as if the fight had gone out of her.

“And for the record,I’m not going to torture you. We’re not barbarians.”

I heard a weak chuckle leave her lips as she followed behind me,and…it was a pretty sweet sound. 

But I knew this was only the beginning. Whatever Eywa’s plan was, it had already begun.

[ladylaviniya]

AVATAR: THE NEW MISSION

|| Masterlist || Chapter 2

Chapter Summary: From a sweet little game to a total nightmare, you will do whatever it will take to protect the children, even face monsters.

Pairing: Recom!Miles Quaritch X Na'vi Reader

Chapter Warnings: 18+ Dead Dove Do Not Eat, Dubious Consent, Kidnapping, Colonisation, Weapons, Death Threats, Coercive Control.

Author Notes: Hi everyone! Life has been crazy but I finally got around to rewriting/editing The New Mission. I will post a new chapter once a week every Tuesday @ 3pm AEST

Inspiring Song: "Cosmic Love" By Florence & The Machine.

As Miles slowly opened his eyes, he was immediately met with a strange feeling of displacement. The bed beneath him felt unfamiliar, and as he sat up, he caught a glimpse of himself in the mirrored window panel across the room. His heart skipped a beat at the sight of his own reflection – the now distinctly blue skin and unfamiliar features staring back at him were both fascinating and disconcerting. For a moment, he had to remind himself that this was not a nightmare, but reality.

Waking up in a different body is always difficult. Well that’s what people with a second chance can say. Miles felt this was a curse at first. He hated how every time to passed a window panel the reflection of blue skin made him want to shoot it.

He hated how he had to crouch under door ways to get into the next room. Most of all he hated the way he was stared at. He thought back on his former human form, when people looked upon him with respect because of his rank and the battle-earned scar that marked his resilience. But now, it was different – people didn’t admire him for his achievements; instead, they gawked at him like some sort of aberration, a living testament to their ungodly science. Miles sat and pondered briefly...had the human race gone too far.

It came and went out of his mind just as quickly, consumed by the bitterness of why and how he came to be in this clone flesh suit he hated.

Confronting Jake Sully proved to be a rushed decision on Miles’s part, as his months spent with Spider had done little to equip him with ample knowledge about Pandora. He was, in essence, a greenhorn in this alien world, and the enormity of his possible failure dawned upon him with stark clarity. Miles was aware that his performance would have far-reaching consequences, not just for himself, but for his standing within the RDA.

The ride back on his Ikran was an ordeal, especially after the grueling battle fought on the fringes of Awa’atlu. He had nearly slid off the creature’s back twice due to his battered state. Arriving back at base, Miles was consumed by a mix of shame and anger, and he was promptly escorted to the medical tent to rest and heal. Weeks passed as he recuperated, until the shrill voice of the General invaded his solitude, a sound that brought a wave of uneasiness to him.

The General, standing on a stool to address the hospitalized Colonel, spoke with a chilling tone, her words sharp as a blade. “I granted you the opportunity to seek revenge, Colonel,” she began, her hand lightly resting on the bedside railing, “yet you have disappointed me. Your mission was straightforward – hunt and execute Jake Sully for his alleged crimes of terrorism and treason. But from what your team has revealed, your pursuit was anything but focused. Instead, you chose to chase after his children, wasting time and resources. Simply putting it Colonel, you fucked around.”

He longed to lash out, to tell her where she could shove her condescending attitude in a place where ‘The sun don’t shine.’. After all, here he was, nursing a broken rib, a split lip, a chipped tooth, a concussion, and a near-drowning experience, and she had the audacity to come down to the infirmary and give him an earful? It was clear as day that they needed him, yet now they were treating him like yesterday’s trash.

“General,” he began, forcing a strained smile even as he slowly sat up, disregarding the protests of the monitors and wires attached to his body. “If I may explain, my choice to pursue Sully’s children was a deliberate tactic. I intended to use them as hostages, to entice him out of hiding.” With a purposeful motion, he pinched off the heart monitor and swiftly removed the remaining cords that tracked his health. The machines worried and beeped loudly, attracting the attention of doctors and nurses. He rose to his feet slowly and bent at his hips to look down at her.

The General instinctively took a step back, taken aback by the imposing figure of the Colonel standing before her. Despite his injuries, his height and stature were intimidating, and she instinctively swallowed, her composure faltering momentarily. “Colonel,” she continued, her tone measured, “I regret to say that this incident has demonstrated a lack of confidence in your ability to carry out the mission effectively.”

Quaritch’s brows furrowed, his anger mounting within him, causing him to clench his teeth in frustration. But instead of lashing out, he nodded with resignation, his acceptance of her words thinly veiled. He would not succumb to the savage hissing urge building up in his throat.

The General let out a weary sigh, her gaze fixed on him. “I can’t afford to jeopardize more lives for your failings,” she stated firmly. “Consider yourself lucky that I haven’t demoted you or worse, discharged you from service.”

Quaritch’s eyes widened and his ears flattened in surprise at her words. He couldn’t help but retort sarcastically, “Discharging me, eh? Wouldn’t be much point in sending me back to Earth though, would there? Might as well stick me in the kitchens. Blue Shrimp! Order up!” he flashed his smiling canines down at her, they were gritting tightly. It took the power of whatever he called a god to not throttle the bitch.

The General’s nostrils flared, and she slammed her hands on the bed rail, her voice sharp. “One more smart remark from you, Colonel, and I’ll throw you out of this camp without a second thought.” Quaritch rolled his eyes in response, his patience wearing thin. Without another word, he stormed out of the medical room, clad in his scrub dress, determined to leave the infirmary behind.

Quaritch heard the General’s command echoing in his wake, “You haven’t been dismissed, Colonel!” He paused, the weight of her words and the eyes on him forcing him to consider her directive. But did he really care? No. Yet he remembered the gazes of the nurses, other patients, and the armed men standing guard – their stares burning into him, reminding him that he was nothing more than a freak, a monster, a clone of some nightmarish alien creation. What respect did he have left coming from them?

Quaritch whirled around, crouching down to meet the General’s eye level. He forced a smirk, and in a mocking tone, he inquired, “May I be dismissed, General?”

The General returned his smile with a sly one of her own, “No,” she replied, her voice dripping with satisfaction. “You’re going to hear to your newest mission.”

Quaritch’s breath caught in his throat at her words. “New mission?” he echoed, his voice betraying a mixture of curiosity and anticipation. He truly thought he was done for with the walls caving in. He was being given a chance, again. This one he didn’t want to fuck up.

    Sitting comfortably on the plush grass, you listened intently to the sound of muffled giggles emanating from the trees above. Your little brother Häewip and his best friend Rìngeay were engaged in a playful game of stalk-and-catch, but it was abundantly clear that they were dreadful at it. Their giggles echoed through the foliage, their hiding spots easily detectable.

You chuckled, recalling fond memories from your childhood. This game was a favourite pastime, meant to teach youngsters the art of stealth, concealment, and stalking their quarry. Young Häewip and Rìngeay had pleaded to be the ones to hide while you took on the role of the hunter, and you always obliged, knowing that they cherished these moments together.

Ah, the memories brought a smirk to your face. You never lost this game, even as a child, always skilfully evading detection whenever it was your turn to hide. And when you were the one doing the seeking, your younger siblings and friends could never find you. After hours of playtime and gathering fruits and meat for the village, you decided to play one final game before returning home.

Finding Rìngeay was easy; her red tail guard stood out against the yellow petals of the tsyorina’wll flowers, giving away her position.

Dropping silently into the soft moss and grass, you crouched, your smile widening. The sound of their giggles meant they could still catch glimpses of you, but you knew you had to hide and stalk even more covertly. With quiet precision, you reached for the riata tied to your thigh, navigating silently through the foliage and vines. Every step was calculated, ensuring not a sound escaped your presence.

With a swift, feline-like motion, you moved around the base of a sturdy tree, adhering to its bark and beginning your ascent up its sturdy trunk. Unseen from the children’s view, you continued climbing, your slender frame blending seamlessly with the foliage. As you ascended higher, you keenly overheard their heated debate – arguing whether you were concealed behind the surrounding tsyorina’wlls or the paywlls nearby.

Unseen, you surpassed them, nimbly ducking to avoid their flicking tails as you continued your climb. As you ascended higher and higher, you finally positioned yourself just above the pair, ensuring they remained oblivious to your position. A swift flick of your wrist and a deft swing sent the lasso loop hurtling towards them, ensnaring them firmly in the air. Their screams of shock echoed through the clearing, only to be overshadowed by your joyful cackles and laughter.

“Taronyut yom smarìl! Hehehe!” The prey eats the hunter; everything possible that can go wrong does! Hehehe!

Your fingers dug and danced over their sensitive skin making them shriek with laughter.

Rìngeay cried with laughter as she was attacked with tickles while she was still bound in the tether, “Ftang! [Y/N]! Ftang!” Stop! [Y/N]! Stop! Laughing tears filled in her eyes.

You turned to smother kisses and tiny bites over Häewip little arms and cheek. He too begged for mercy with a smile before you spat out the tip of his pointed ears with a “Ftxìvä’” Yuck!

Their playful attempts to resist your victorious gloating were thwarted as they promptly wriggled out of their bindings and tackled you with a barrage of affectionate hugs. Laughter rang through the forest air, filling the space with joyful abandon. The three of you took a moment to catch your breaths before settling back against the sturdy branches of the tree. The game had been a much-needed respite, a temporary diversion from the anxieties waiting back at home.

The gentle warmth of the breeze enveloped you, its caress a soothing touch against your skin. The sweat trickling down your forehead spoke of an impending rain, as the humidity had slowly been building throughout the past several days, culminating in this humid day. The soil beneath you felt parched, yearning for a refreshing drink. The feeling was strangely familiar – you sympathized with the great mother, feeling just as exhausted and longing for a fresh change in your life, yet uncertain about the path you were expected to tread.

“Tsmuke?” Sister? Häewip suddenly asked.

“Sran?” Yes?

With a pleading look in his big, yellow eyes, he asked, “Fta si tswin rutxe oeyä?” Please retie my queue braid? A fond smile tugged at your lips, for this was a familiar routine. Despite growing older, he still sought your help, asserting that you could tie it just right – not too tight, yet not loose enough for it to come undone easily.

You let out a soft sigh, gesturing to the space between your legs. “Za’u,” Come, you instructed, signaling where he should settle.

Rìngeay swiftly crawled over, joining her friend, both eager for you to tighten their braids. As she waited her turn, she took the initiative and utilized your lasso to hoist the sack of freshly hunted meat up towards you all. She knew all too well the importance of safeguarding the fruits of your labor, ensuring no lurking animals could snatch them away. After all, hunting effectively with only a knife was no easy feat. Your mother had strictly forbidden you to use a bow for hunting, and her word was law.

‘Häewip is getting taller everyday now,’ you thought to yourself as you realised where he head sat and how high you had to lift your arms now to carefully braid his long black mane around his queue.

It had been only nine wet seasons ago that you sat beside the birth of your brother. Your mother’s weeping and her joy at a son. The joy your father had, picking you up on his shoulders so you could have a better look at the wet ball that was of newborn Häewip. You wondered how you must’ve looked twenty wet seasons ago. Perhaps just the same.

Häewip was growing more confident and ambitious, dreaming of becoming a warrior just like your cousin, Rawm. You silently hoped that he would never emulate Rawm’s recklessness and ride out into a storm, only to be struck by lightning. Fortunately, the chances of that happening seemed slight, as more often than not, Häewip was practically attached at the hip to Rìngeay, his unwavering companion. Although they were the same age, Rìngeay seemed to consistently adhere to the village curfew, unlike your more daring brother. When you inquired about her dreams, she would blush and shyly admit her ambition to being that of the wife to a great warrior. You wondered if it was her own little heart that held the nobility of a warrior instead.

Finishing the last strand in Rìngeay’s hair you suggested to the two younger na’vi, “Pxoe kelku kivä ko,” Let’s All Go home.

And they agreed. The distance was far and if they didn’t get home before the sun hid beneath the mountains it would be your head.

You reckoned somehow it would not matter anyway because today you had been disobedient...

You were supposed to be diligently gathering utumauti and pixayzekwä berries, preparing to simmer them into a hot boil to create a wine for your impending marriage ceremony to Pukxaw – a warrior Na’vi of another tribe.

The thought of your mother’s furious reaction upon your return to Greenhome filled you with dread. Her wrath would be intense, and your ears would undoubtedly be in danger once you faced her.

As you traversed the familiar path back home, your younger companions sprinted ahead, effortlessly leaping over logs and foliage. A warm smile tugged at your lips, as you silently hoped that the great mother would bless your future with children as exuberantly happy as them. However, your thoughts briefly strayed to your intended mate, Pukxaw. You secretly wished for a spouse far better than him.

Pukxaw was a warrior Na’vi from the Anurai clan. He was tall, thin and nearing his elder years, and his personality matched his appearance – he was a dull and stoic Na’vi with little patience. He enjoyed hunting, but your scholarly vows restricted you from using a bow, this seemed to irk him when you meet him at the last clan gathering. To your surprise, once the decision was made for your clans’ mating agreement, you found yourself utterly shocked at the prospect of being bonded with such a bland and unappealing individual.

You couldn’t help but wonder if Ewya, the great mother herself, would have bestowed upon you a mate who possessed patience and the ability to communicate effectively. You longed for a mate who possessed a genuine sense of humour and one who could provide the comfort of a warm embrace when needed. Someone who, above all else, would graciously listen to your thoughts about your people’s rich history. The prospect of being eternally bound to a reserved and disrespectful mate who solely provided you with skins for your labor seemed utterly unappealing.

Glancing over at the grazing Yerik, you immediately noticed a shift in their behavior. They had halted their movements, their eyes fixated in a particular direction. As a show of respect, you lowered your head, but to your growing concern, they continued their unwavering stare. Something felt amiss in the air – the wind turned chilly, and an eerie silence enveloped the surroundings. Your eyes widened as you wondered, ‘Why is it so quiet? Where are the children?’

Panicked, you frantically scanned your surroundings, but your brother and Rìngeay were nowhere to be seen.

“Tsmuke! Srungsi!” Sister help! You heard Häewip scream in the distance. Your heart sank like a stone, and a wave of dread washed over you. They were in danger!

Dropping the sack of meat you sprinted ahead and screamed back, “Tsmukan!” Brother!

You strained your ears intently, hoping for a response, but all you heard were the terrified cries of the two young ones.

With the riata clenched tightly in one hand and the dagger in the other, you prepared yourself for whatever might await you. Realizing you would have to engage the threat at close range, you cautiously advanced towards the source of the whimpering and crying.

As you got closer, the voices grew louder, and a wave of worry washed over you. Regret stirred within you for taking them so far away from safety.

Your breath hitched in your throat, and a cold shiver ran down your spine. Standing before you was a group of individuals unlike any you had ever seen before – no, they were not Na’vi. These were aliens from the stars, the dreaded Uniltìrantokx. Their unusual attire and strange, indecipherable speech sent a chill through your body.

Your heart squeezed tightly as you remembered the dark days of the war, the great battle – a tragic period that had befallen on Pandora fifteen wet seasons ago. The horrors and terror of that day still lingered, leaving emotional scars upon your soul.

Your heart sank further at the excited sound of a female Uniltìrantokx’ voice through the air. “Colonel, look at what we just found, two little blue rats!”

A surge of protectiveness flared within you, watching Häewip bravely threaten the aliens with dire consequences if they harmed “his” Rìngeay. However, his brave act earned him a sharp slap in the face from another Uniltìrantokx. Indignantly, your lip curled in anger at the sight, and a fierce determination surged through you as you plotted to make the offending alien pay for laying a hand on your loved ones.

Your nimble fingers hovered anxiously over the dagger’s hilt, contemplating your next actions. This was unprecedented; you had never confronted such a large number of foes before. Truthfully, fear and uncertainty gnawed at your thoughts, leaving you questioning your ability to overpower them all.

Retreating to Greenhome for help was not an option; the distance would be too great to cover in time. You would have to rely on your own skills and bravery to free your loved ones, and hope that a hasty escape would be possible. The plan was risky, but it was all you had at the moment.

The Uniltìrantokx held sinister-looking tools in their grasp – their dreaded guns. Memories of Toruk Makto, the legendary leader of the Omatikaya, sending these fearsome creatures away flickered through your mind. Rumors had circulated about their potential return to Pandora, yet you had always dismissed them as mere tales to frighten the children before bedtime.

The individual known as the Colonel responded in a dismissive tone, “Just our luck, Walker,” as he swatted away a bug that had landed on his shoulder. He surveyed the surroundings once more, his hand touching his neck, and spoke into a communication device, “Blue Bird, come in. We have what we need. Bring the chopper over here, pronto!”

His eyes scanned the trees and bushes and then he saw it…a whisp of blue. He smirked, he wasn’t surprised these kids would be all alone and so far from their village. This was exactly what he needed… an adult. He saw your numb expression in the bushes, devising an attack. His gaze met yours, and a sinister smile played upon his lips as he aimed his gun directly at you.

“Well hello, hello- Now, why don’t you come out and join us, friend?!” He spat and licked his canines chuckling, “we ain’t gonna hurt ya!”

Your grip on your knife tightened as you cautiously rose from the brush, your heart pounding in your chest. The Colonel gestured toward you, beckoning you closer, his weapon still pointing in your direction. You inched toward the group, and he observed your eyes nervously flicker between all five of the Recom. His smile turned predatory as he noticed your trembling hands and strained tail. He perceived you as an easy target, assuming your fear would render you vulnerable and helpless.

With a calm yet firm voice, you called out, “Lonu fo,” Release them.

Your footsteps moved cautiously around the group, your knife held firmly in your grasp. The Recom knew that your weapon was no match against their bullets. He had already devised plans for you, viewing you as a perfect addition to their plans in store

“Mefo eveng,” they are children, you pleaded, attempting to negotiate with the Colonel. Your body language – the tilting of your head and shrinking of your stance – was a clear sign of your surrender and willingness to cooperate. You desperately hoped that it would evoke a sense of mercy within these creatures, these pretenders.

The Colonel quickly realized that you were relinquishing control, and he noted your worried glances toward the rowdy boy and whimpering girl. He couldn’t help but speculate about you ‘Is she the mother of these two kids?’

 Rìngeay shouted out your name.

“Shut it!” the Uniltìrantokx who was holding her to her knees yelled causing the poor girl to start sobbing in fear.

The Colonel was not surprised seeing how your nostril flared and teeth bared like a wild cat.

He scowled, “Nga kem si ìnglìsì tslam?” Do you understand English?

Your breath came hard and fast, betraying your fear. He advanced toward you, his gun still aimed in your direction, but it was now resting on his hip, rather than held at the ready. He casually scrutinized you from head to toe, his eyes taking in every detail.

“Well?” He drawled.

Your gaze flickered between the children and the Colonel, your heart pounding in your chest. You took a deep breath before uttering, “Let. Them. Go.” The words tasted foreign on your tongue, your mind racing to recall the right terms in English.

A sly smile formed on the Colonel’s face as he revelled in your broken English.

“Let them go,” he mimicked, his voice dripping with condescension. He was taken aback as he felt the cold blade of your dagger pressed firmly against his skin. Clearly, you did not appreciate his attempt at humour. He stared into your eyes, which had widened with anger, and observed the way your teeth were beginning to bare intensely.

“Let them go- now,” You said fluently, “or I take all your lives.”

He admired your confidence. The sound of guns cocking surrounded you both. He huffed softly from the cold bite that came from your dagger.

“You alright boss? This bitch moves we’ll smoke her.”

The Colonel could clearly see the rage burning in your eyes. He recognized the determined glint in your gaze and knew that you were not about to back down. His own golden eyes flickered, betraying his surprise at your fierce perseverance, he grunted, “Stand down. Release the brats. We don’t need ‘em.”

The other interrogators exchanged puzzled glances, clearly unsure of how to react to this unexpected turn of events.

Meanwhile, the Colonel watched with amusement as a look of relief washed over your face when he ordered his companions to release the children.

Your voice rang out, filled with urgency, “Nìwin! Hifwo! Hum! Kä!” Quickly flee! Leave! Go!, you shrieked at the children, urging them to flee to safety.

Your eyes remained locked on the Colonel, listening as the sound of the children’s footsteps faded into the distance as they raced away. The Colonel contemplated sending some of his men after them, back to their village, but he quickly realized the suicide in doing so.

With a pained expression, he felt the sharp blade of your weapon press against his skin, causing a small knick. You hastily pulled back, a look of realization and remorse on your face. In a soft voice, you whispered, “Thankyou.”

He was now impressed by your english and knew what he had to finish today,

He smirked, “You’re a polite one aren’t ya?”

The Colonel couldn’t help but be impressed by your improved command of the English language, but he knew that there was still work to be done.

Suddenly, an Uniltìrantokx stepped up behind you and forcefully twisted your wrist, forcing you to drop your weapon. You cried out in pain as you were struck in the face with the butt of a gun, knocking you to the ground. Blood trickled from an open wound on your forehead, and you instinctively covered your injured eye.

In a swift motion, the Colonel dropped to his knees and forcefully pinned you onto your stomach, restraining your flailing body as you cried out in agony. He cruelly stepped on your tail, intensifying your pain and causing you to howl in torment. Despite your struggle, you frantically tried to claw at his arm, desperate for liberation. A sharp jab pierced your lower back just above your tail, leaving you writhing in pain.

As his grip loosened, you wasted no time in scrambling to escape. You managed to push passed the Colonel and sprinted beyond the tree line, urgently pursuing Häewip and Rìngeay.

The sound of the Colonel’s feet pounding behind you echoed through the forest, filling you with a chilling sense of fear. Your legs and tail throbbed with pain from the numerous scrapes and cuts that littered your body. All you wanted was to reach the safety of home as soon as possible.

With every nimble move, you dodged branches, ducked under hanging limbs, and scrambled across fallen logs, but his relentless pursuit continued to gain on you. Your weary legs grew increasingly numb and your back started to ache from the arduous run.

As you forced yourself to keep moving, your body felt heavier with every step. You were overwhelmed by a wave of nausea and exhaustion, your stomach feeling like it was weighed down by an invisible burden. Unable to continue any longer, you slowed to a stop, preparing to vomit, but instead, you collapsed onto your hands and knees.

With trembling limbs, you tried desperately to crawl away from the approaching footsteps of the Colonel above. Your fingers felt distant and disconnected, while your head buzzed with a dizzying sensation. You emitted a weak cry and tumbled headfirst into a patch of slippery mud.

The figure above you started to move and became a dozen shadows, his voice filled your ears, “Going somewhere sweetheart?”

Your vision grew hazy and your eyelids felt heavy, making it impossible to open them anymore. In your disoriented state, you could only hope that Häewip and Rìngeay had safely returned to the villages.

The Colonel’s lips curled into a sinister smirk as he looked down at your drugged and unconscious form. With ease, he hoisted your body over his shoulder, carrying you effortlessly toward the waiting helicopter.

  To Be Continued....

★HELPLINES★

If you are a victim of sexual abuse, assault or domestic violence or know someone who is please reach out to these links that share helpline services, phone numbers or emails. Consent and respect is important in every relationship whether between friends, family or even strangers. .

Australian Helpline Services

UK Helpline Services

American Helpline Services

India Helpline Services.

[chimerafflesia]

KC CUP APRIL 2025: WITCHES AND PLANTS VERSUS THE META ❄️🌿

Or: KC Cup experience as told by some guy who just cannot let it go. ⬅️ I'm that guy. let's GO

starting this off with a shout out to my WINDWITCHESSSS we killed it this month oh my GOD. I climbed from lvl 10 to 19 with these girlies and it was amazing. I feel like I really got comfortable with the deck this month and was able to strategize quickly with it. I truly adore this deck and I love love love playing as my beautiful Rin so it's just a great time. I had a number of incredibly satisfying wins with this deck and that's what really counts between the meta nightmares. WINDWITCHES 4 EVER!!! 💚❄️💚

per usual here is my decklist ‼️I went through so much trial and error throughout (aka figuring out which cards I needed to deal w/ backrow (hi free fiendish chain !!!!)) but I ultimately went with the double MST / triple BOE. for me, this deck is a little better going first, just because depending on what's in my hand it can be hard to play through disruption. but when this deck gets rocking and rolling GOD IS IT FUN. AND FUNNY.

crystal wing synchro dragon as summoned with snow bell I love you so much. what's better than crystal wing synchro dragon? how about one that can't be destroyed by card effects? and what is the opponent going to do, battle it? 😂🫵

lots and lots of fun. I deeply enjoy when crystal wing gets attacked into. atk gain is SWEET. konami please hear my call we need crystal wing off the banlist now more than ever. it will save the meta. it will save your game. it will save ME. please consider 🤍

ultimately I did end up maxing out with my predaplants because they are a better match for the wave of terror that is RDA players 💔 Yuri simply will never get to rest as long as I'm still playing duel links. Jack decks are full of dark attribute monsters and well those are my plants favorite snacks 😋 I see dark attribute and I slam that mind control down IMMEDIATELY. of course we bait a little (usually with predaplast) to waste tuning gum's effect, then we EAT.

live footage of me using predaplant against RDA:

I've posted my predaplant decks like 374835 times at this point but because my brain likes to keep things neat here it is again. only thing I will say here is because of the wave of face up continuous/field spells (hi jack hi soulburner hi jaden players that use necrovalley) I may go back to double MST / one night beam, but we'll see. guess you could play spider orchid for the S/T zone spells. who am I kidding. none of us are playing spider orchid. sorry Yuri but we are waiting on your better pendulums.

I'm mainly mentioning jack here cuz he's the main villain of this KC Cup but we still have some returning villains, and a new one!

(I hate subterror so much please lord what are we even supposed to DO against it 💔💔💔)

all this to say despite everything, despite it all, the broken skills and all the handtraps in the world, I still knew I could do it. and well, a guy like me who loves freemium mobile card games just a little too much, enjoys a challenge and didn't want it to end on a sour note. many duel links players don't know this, but some of us play for fun!!! it all comes down to the fact I simply enjoy the game and enjoy playing it a lot. but I am not a fan of this trend in skills like please konami STOP 💔 because it hinders my fun. it's also just bad for the game. tbh.

made a little joke on twt abt it but yeah if Yuri dropped this year we wouldn't even need fusion recycling plant. we'd get infinite copies of polymerization anyways

ummmm in conclusion new skills are bad. we need a nerf/banlist/literally anything SOON. because I love duel links and I love playing competitively and I want it to be fun forever. this was my most challenging KC Cup yet but despite it all I still had fun. even when I got lava golem'd in back to back matches 😵‍💫 I think it's also because I played as my favorite characters 💚💜

windwitches and predaplant are number one to me. Rin and Yuri after I use their decks to defeat the evil meta:

#RINSWEEP #YURISWEEP and DON'T forget it !!

[naavispider]

Ok so the last part in “Jake’s first flight” soundtrack in Avatar is Ninat praying to Eywa, and that game me an idea. What if the recoms squad camped somewhere near a lone tree of voices and Spider took the opportunity to bow at its roots and sing prayers? How would they (mostly Quaritch tho) react to it? To him singing in Na’vi, and in a religious context?

The moss was a soft blanket under his knees. He knelt down amongst the tender, lilac tendrils of the Tree of Voices like he was on hallowed ground. Every movement had to be soft, considered and mindful. This was a place where Eywa saw all.

“Great Mother, I pray for the wellness of my family. I pray for the prosperity and safety of the People. Let the be okay. Let them escape the terror of discovery.” He carded his fingers through a few glowing branches, as softly as he could, and closed his eyes while holding them. “Most importantly, I pray for forgiveness for my part in that terror. I will be strong, but I know it is not enough. I pray that you can forgive me for being with the Sky People. I pray that you can forgive me for the evil in my veins. Look into my heart and know that it is with the People. Ma Eywa, forgive me.”

When he opened his eyes, he was still as alone as he could be. A soft breeze rustled over the grass around him, and for a second he swore the tree grew brighter. He splayed one hand on the ground as his heartbeat picked up, keeping the other gently holding the tree’s tendrils. It had always been his way of connecting to Eywa without a kuru. “Ma Eywa,” he whispered through closed eyelids, feeling more certain than ever that she was listening.

“What the hell are you doing, kid?”

In an instant, it was over. The wind died and the light dimmed. Spiders heart sank as he opened his eyes in anger, immediately raging that none other than Colonel Miles Quaritch had interrupted.

“Minding my own business,” he growled, standing up and turning around to glare at Quaritch.

Quaritch however, seemed oblivious to Spider’s ire. “What was that?” he asked, a frown forming on his face as he gestured at the tree.

Spider narrowed his eyes, not sure if he wanted to share that most precious moment with the RDA squad leader. He bit his tongue for a moment. “Nothing.”

Quaritch looked suspicious. He tilted his head to the side and his tail swished agitatedly behind him. Eventually he decided to take Spider’s word for it. “What are you doing over here by yourself? Come back to the squad.”

Spider turned his back, resuming his position on the floor. “I’m good, thanks.”

“Spider-“

“Leave me alone.”

Quaritch clearly felt some type of way about this, because he hesitated before answering. “If you get eaten by some beast don’t blame me.”

Spider rolled his eyes at the man’s attempt at humour, and didn’t respond. If he did, it wouldn’t be pleasant. He waited until the sound of the recom’s boots had retreated all the way back to where the rest of the temporary camp was set up, a decent distant away from the tree. He closed his eyes again, trying to get back to that place of calm and stillness that had allowed Eywa to hear him. He lowered his breathing and heart rates, and tried to focus on feeling her energy, but the moment was gone.

“Demons!” he cursed.

He took a deep breath, and settled back on his haunches, listening to the low buzz of the forest as he brought to the forefront of his mind a song. In a low voice, he began to sing:

Utralä (a)Nawm ayrina’l(u) ayoeng, A peyä tìtxur mì hinam awngeyä N(a) aysangek afkeu, Mì pun N(a) ayvul ahusawnu, M(ì) aynar Na seze A ’ong ne tsawke. Utralä (a)Nawm ayrina’ l(u) ayoeng, A peyä tìrol m(ì) awnga.

The song told of the connectivity of the People, and Spider had heard it sung and joined in countless times during periods of loss and also celebration. It was one of his favourite ways to pay tribute to Eywa.

Unfortunately for him, his singing hadn’t gone unnoticed. He was brought back to reality by a piercing whistle from the camp. He gasped, spinning round to see who or what had just invaded his privacy again.

“Shut it Lyle,” Quaritch chastised from not too far away.

Wainfleet looked smug as anything, grinning from ear to ear, but he had the common sense to not speak again.

“Bastards,” Spider hissed.

Quaritch put his hands up, slowly approaching Spider’s spot under the tree as if Spider was a scared animal and he was worried about spooking him. “That was pretty impressive. That was all in your funky alien language?”

Spider simmered, clenching his fists at his side. Why he ever bothered trying to teach Quaritch the funky alien language, Spider didn’t know. “Are you trying to piss me off? Cause it’s fucking working.”

“Hey, don’t give me that,” Quaritch said, making a faux offended expression. “I was just thinking how nice it sounded.”

Spider raised an eyebrow. That sounded like some bullshit. “Did you fall over a blastbulb or something?” Maybe the recom was sick.

"Can I not enjoy something?"

Spider squirmed uncomfortably. Not when it comes from me. "No."

Quaritch took a seat next to Spider. The tree of voices's branches brushed over the recom's shoulders and he pulled them off gently. "Sounded real special."

"It was," Spider replied, deadpan. He so did not want to be having this conversation with Quaritch. Especially not here, so close to Eywa.

"What does it mean?" Quaritch pressed. He sounded sincere for once, so Spider grit his teeth and tried to explain.

"It's a song about connectivity. It tells us that we're all seeds of the sacred tree. We are all of Eywa, and eventually we will all return to her."

"Eywa...?"

"The Great Mother."

Quaritch nodded his head as if he'd just put the name to the colloquialism. "Gotcha."

Spider stared at him sideways. Why did he care? Why was he listening to him?

"And this Eywa, she's the big daddy around here, right? The one all the local nuts are obsessed with..." He didn't say it as a question, more like a memory that was coming back to him from a previous life. "I remember Augustine..."

Spider flinched at the mention of Kiri's mom. He also wasn't used to anyone talking about Eywa in such a dismissive and disrespectful way. He'd never heard that before. "You don't see, so just stop talking."

Quaritch had the gumption to look confused.

"You think it's something to joke about. Well I don't want to hear it. Go slander her name to your boyfriend." He nodded over to Wainfleet.

"Woah, kid!" Quaritch was clearly baffled at Spider's response. "I didn't mean to offend. Don't get yourself riled up. I just wanna know why you believe so much in this... this deity."

"...Why do I believe?"

"That's right."

Spider thought about it for a moment, running his hands over the moss beneath him and watching it glow. "....Because she's real."

"Ah ah!" Quaritch made a disappointed face as if Spider had just lost a game or answered a question wrong. "That's a logical fallacy. I'm asking you what evidence do you have."

Spider frowned.

"I mean, there must be a lot if you're willing to sit and sing a song to a tree for half an hour for her."

He bristled, trying not to let Quaritch's language rile him up. "She lives in all of us," he began to explain slowly. "When we die, we return to her and the People can hear their ancestors living on at places like this. She guided Jake through her eye and blessed him with a new body." He shrugged. "If you want evidence, talk to the science guys. Oh wait..." He looked straight at Quaritch. "You already killed one of them."

Quaritch kept his face impassive, though he stretched his jaw, taking in Spider's words. "We've all wished for do-overs, kid," he finally replied, so quietly that Spider wasn't sure he'd heard correctly. Was Quaritch trying to say that he regretted killing Grace?

"You don't belong in a place like this," Spider said, having finally had enough.

"What? And you do?" Quaritch appraised him, an irritated frown line forming between his eyes. "Look at you. You can't even plug into the thing."

Spider snapped, hissing at Quaritch. How dare this man invade his privacy - invade Eywa's sacred site - spew doubts and insults and then attack Spider for not being Na'vi... "Get out!" he yelled, needing the man to retreat to at least a few feet away from the tree's edge. Preferably the middle of a deep lake with weights on his feet, if possible.

"Right, you're kinda sensitive about that, huh?"

"I said get OUT!" A breeze had swept up in the past minute or two, seeming to circle where the pair were sat. At Spider's words, it turned ice cold.

"Jesus!" Quaritch cussed, noticing the dramatic change in temperature. He stared questioningly at Spider, who remained resolutely planted on the ground, the temperature not appearing to affect him. After a second of hesitation, Quaritch got up to his feet and hastily retreated back to the camp, watching Spider the whole way.

Spider didn't know why the cold didn't bother him. He could feel it for sure, but only as if he was a passenger in his own body, feeling without really experiencing. His heart was hammering twice its usual speed. That was the second sign from Eywa today. He didn't know how or why, but it seemed like she had heard him.

She'd heard him.

"Thank you, Great Mother," he muttered, so quietly that no one would be able to hear, even Quaritch, who was stood on the perimeter of the tree, staring at Spider as if he was finally learning to See.

[jeanniebug623]

By Eywa, internet loves…it’s been too long. Work, life, health, passing of loved ones…I’m so tired these days. Please enjoy some fluff before, you know, the story hits its peek… 💙🐞

🕸️🕷️ Weaving the Web 🕷️🕸️

Chapter 24: Familiar Faces

Spider stayed quiet and rigid the entire flight to the forest. Quaritch tried to spur conversation with his son but ended up just asking a lot of yes or no questions when anything more resulted in awkward silence. Obviously, his hand hurt like hell but it didn’t stop the colonel from keeping it on his son’s shoulder for some grounding comfort. They didn’t go far outside past the walled kill zone but he hoped being surrounded by all that green would start to perk the kid up.

”There ya go, tiger.” Quaritch said as he coaxed Spider of Cupcake’s back when he shied away, hiding his face in the hood of his sweatshirt. He frowned at the glisten of sweat he could see on Spider’s face. The kid NEVER wore long sleeves or pants outside and Quaritch couldn’t blame him given the heat and humidity. He put on a comforting smile as he pulled Spider’s hood back and remarked, “You gotta be melting, kid. Come on, you’ll feel better with some fresh air and a new coat of paint.”

Spider nodded in agreement but, instead of taking off his sweatshirt, just started to wander around and look for a Spartan fruit plant. Quaritch frowned a bit as he watched his kid from behind but let it go. He wasn’t going to rush him. Glancing down at his gloved hand, hiding the wound, he tested the injury by slowly gripping a fist a few times. He stopped before Spider caught him and went about searching the other direction the boy had gone.

It didn’t take long for them to find enough fruit to dye all of Spider blue. Before he could start peeling the purple skin back, Quaritch asked, “Isn’t there a way to make it last longer?”

“Hm?” Spider mumbled as he looked up. It was the closest thing to a word the kid had said since the night before.

”Well, it seems to wash off pretty quick lately, so…” Quaritch said, as he casually glanced around the surrounding forest, “But you were blue for a pretty long time in the beginning.”

”Oh…” Spider said sheepishly and shrugged, “It’s ok…”

”Nah, let’s make ‘em last in case I get sent out on another mission.” Quaritch suggested, pocketing his harvested fruit.

”Are you?” Spider said suddenly and whipped his head up to meet his father’s eyes for the first time since staring him down with manic terror in his own eyes and a knife to the recom’s throat. This poor kid. His eyes were still red from crying and lack of sleep and now they glistened with fear. He knew it could happen. His father was still an RDA attack dog.

”Nothin’ right now…but that could change at any time, you know that.” Quaritch said softly, “But hey, maybe you can tag along again one of these days.”

Spider’s gaze dropped and he looked away. He would love to do that. To get out of Bridgehead for more than just a few hours? Get away from doctors and prying eyes and Nash MCosker? He wanted nothing more than to be just one of the squad! But he hadn’t been in contact - not even SEEN - a Na’vi since he was first captured. What would his response be given Miles’ strong hatred towards…well, everyone?

”So…” Quaritch said as he cleared his throat and closed the gap between his son and himself to rest a hand on his head, “What’ll make these stripes really stick?”

”Oh…um…” Spider looked around for a few moments then pointed to a tree with smooth bark with a reddish hue, “Sap from those trees help…”

Quaritch ruffled his head with a nod and walked over as he drew his knife from his belt while saying, “Strip down to your skivvies while I do this. And drink some water, would ya? You’re beet red under the eyes.”

Spider was uncomfortably hot. Usually was, even in the air conditioned confines of the city, but felt less obvious and more ignored when he was dressed like a sky person and hiding his dreadlocked hair. Part of him didn’t even want him to get his stripes redone…even though he felt completely unlike himself without them. Whoever he thought he was at this point…

He watched his father stab deep into the tree then pull the knife down at an angle. The sap quickly started to flow and he knew they would only have some much time to combine it with the blue fruit juice before he set. He dropped the fruit he collected and turned away as he pulled the sweatshirt off over his head. He wasn’t so much shy as he was self-conscious…

Quaritch didn’t expect so much sap to flow so quickly and he looked around for something to catch it, “Hey, Spi-…”

The colonel found himself at a loss for words when he looked back to his son to ask what would be a good makeshift container for the sap. His question died in his throat at the sight of his son’s body. He knew Spider had been losing weight and muscle mass. He knew Spider hadn’t been eating or sleeping well. He knew all of the stress and medication was messing with the sixteen-year-old’s body.

But none of that rationale could soothe the heartbreak of seeing one’s son wasting away before their very eyes…

Quaritch was appalled, at no fault of his son’s, by how easy it was to see the dips between his ribs. When the boy turned to throw the sweatshirt over the closest breach, he could count each vertebrae of his spine between well-defined shoulder blades. The sharpness of his hips offered Quaritch no comfort when it was obvious the loincloth had been tightened significantly around the waist from slipping off. He quickly averted his eyes before Spider could catch him staring.

”What?” Spider asked, wondering what his father was going to ask. He did feel much better with the fresh air cooling him down. They locked eyes and Spider froze when he saw it in his father’s eyes. Pity . Of all things; one of the things he hated the most. He didn’t even notice he’d started raising his hand to trace where his stripes usually were on his forearm, even though that had proven a risky grounding technique.

Quaritch caught it before Spider’s nails touched his skin and said firmly with his ears flicking back, “Son…it’s alright.”

The colonel closed the gap between them and dropped to one knee to be at his eye level. Quaritch didn’t know how it was going to be alright, but it would be. He didn’t have the words for it, so he opted to show it instead. He placed his hands on his son’s shoulders. Ignoring how bony they were, he pulled Spider into a gentle hug. It was loose enough that he could pull away if he needed to.

But, to his surprise and relief, Spider wrapped his shaking arms around Quaritch’s thick torso and whispered, “I trust you…”

As much as they could have stayed like that for hours, they were on a time limit and not just because the sap was setting Quartich’s knife into the tree as it dried. Spider wove a leaf into a makeshift container and mixed the paint together. Quaritch watched the meticulous way he tested the consistency to get the right mixture.

When he was done, Spider immediately started painting stripes where he could see. He looked up with a confused look when his father took the paint and picked up where he left off. While Spider had gotten better at accepting his father’s help for the hard to reach places, he still didn’t like anyone other than Kiri helping him…some habits wouldn’t die.

”I got ya, kid, I won’t screw it up too bad.” Quaritch said with a chuckle to lighten the mood. He sure as hell was hoping he wouldn’t screw it up! Normally there was a faded pattern to trace but not this time. Not even a hint of blue remained. And that was his fault. Quaritch should have offered to take him out sooner, but Spider had been so reclusive and covering himself up that he had no clue his son was completely stripe-less.

Spider didn’t argue when his father started painting. He started on his back and Spider tried not to flinch at his touch or cringe when the recom’s fingers dipped in and out between his ribs. How much did he weigh now? Would be able to go back to the gym and try to build his muscle back up? Or go running in the forest or indoor track? He was just so tired all the time…in every definition of the word…

A little over an hour and a half passed, though to Spider he would’ve guessed only fifteen minutes given how quickly he zoned out. Quaritch watched him carefully and didn’t take offense when his son didn’t reply to his questions or small talk.

”Time for the face, tiger.” Quaritch said. Spider blinked out of trance and looked down at his body. When the hell did that happen? Quaritch was happy to see a smile tug at the corners of Spider’s mouth and suggested, “Or do you want to skip it? Do it back home so not to stress out your lungs.”

”No, do it here.” Spider said quickly. Even though everything gave him anxiety those days, going back to Bridgehead so soon sent a prickle through his body. He flushed red from embarrassment and said, “Please, ma sempul…”

Quaritch stared at Spider in shock. Had his son ever called him that…? Yes, he’d been calling him Koaktan and the translation of ‘old man’ made him smirk every time. Spider started chewing on the inside of his cheek when his father didn’t answer.

”Of course, son…” Quaritch said as he reached up to take hold of the mask, “Big breath.”

Quaritch worked as quickly as he could, stopping often - maybe too often giving Spider’s eye rolls - to let the boy get a breath. He didn’t find himself being as careful as he was with the other stripes. Maybe it was the irrational fear of his son suffocating after a few extra seconds without oxygen or that he was just straight up enjoying bonding over this that made him faster or slower. He was happy to say he was done after only fifteen or so minutes.

”Well, not too shabby…if I do say so myself.” Quaritch said with an approving nod.

”Yeah?” Spider asked before giving a welcome and mischievous little smirk, “I’ll be the judge of that…”

Quaritch feigned insult and stood, “All right, smart guy, c’mon then.”

Spider exaggerated his eye roll as he followed his father over to a pool of relatively still water aside from some water dripping off the mossy roots. Quaritch had a pretty smug expression of his own, ready to see his son’s awe at his amazing painting skills. The boy froze. His playful expression slowly faded away as he stared at his own reflection.

Something struck Quaritch. Given Spider’s, up until recently, hidden issue with someone writing warnings on the mirrors, would any reflective surface trigger a negative response? Or was the recom just that bad at painting his kid’s stripes?

”Spider? Don’t keep me hanging, kid, I’m awaiting judgment here.” Quaritch said, nervousness lacing his face. At least his tone sounded strong.

Spider continued to stare at his reflection, eyes darting around his father’s work. After nearly a minute of nothing, the teen ripped off his mask as he dropped to his knees and his father went into panic mode. Quaritch dropped to his own knees and tried to grab the mask to fix it back on Spider’s face. But he hugged it tight with one arm and placed the fingertips of his free hand to his face.

As scared as he was from his boy’s sudden actions, Quaritch didn’t try to grab the mask when Spider had pulled it away. His heart was rattling his ribs loose as he forced himself to just watch his son. Quaritch watched how the kid traced the lines on his forehead, cheeks, and jaw without saying a damn word. Goddamn, he really must have fucked it up…

“Spider, we can just scrub it off and start over…I’m sure we can find something to take it off quicker than waiting.” Quaritch said, disappointed in himself for screwing up something so simple and meant to make Spider feel better after the last several weeks. Especially the incident the night before.

Finally, the burning in his lungs from holding his breath and his father’s voice snapped Spider out of his trance. He fumbled slightly but replaced the mask and took several deep breaths. His father had a sad look on his face when he looked up at him with a bright, surprised expression.

”I look like you!” Spider exclaimed.

”Huh…? What d’you mean?” Quaritch asked, his ears perking up and his brows furrowed in confusion.

”These are your pil !” Spider said, looking back to his reflection again and running his fingers over the mask to trace the stripes again.

Quaritch was still confused. He leaned forward to get a better look at the kid’s face. Na’vi stripes were like fingerprints; they’d never seen a native look exactly the same as the one next to them. The colonel knew what his blue mug looked like but he didn’t put nearly that many stripes on Spider’s face. But the longer he looked…the longer he watched Spider trace over his stripes…the more Quaritch started to see the resemblance.

”Shit, son…” was all Quaritch could say. It was NOT his intention to pull influence from his own damn reflection that stared back at him every day. Was it an exact carbon copy of the recom? No, but he was seeing the stripes on his son’s face were almost exact to the more prominent of his own facial stripes. He opened his mouth to apologize and reassure Spider they could fix it, but he didn’t get the chance.

”I want you to do it again…next time.” Spider started softly, “Every time you do it. I want it to look like this…please. Is that ok?”

Of all the shock and awe the father and son had experienced in the last twenty four hours, this was the most unexpected and heartfelt. Quaritch wasn’t expecting Spider to say he wanted to look like him…even if it was just the boy’s way to feel more Na’vi and less human. The teenager had spent his whole life trying to separate himself from his roots. The roots that grew from seeds that came from the sky.

But even if the seeds came from the sky, the roots were deep in the soil of Pandora.

”Of course I can, son.” Quaritch said soothingly, running a hand back over his son’s hair. “We’ll make sure they never fade again.”

[be-the-glenn-to-my-maggie]

I'm just imagining Jack after he's assembled every single Na'vi he could muster, all ready to storm bridgehead and drive the human away once more, only to find it laying in ruins. Terror sweeps over him as he wonders what could have caused such destruction to the fortified base. In the distance he sees a lone figure surrounded by the rubble, it's hand tightly holding something strange. As they move closer, cautious of the stranger, his features become clearer until eventually he can be recognized as none other that Spider. In his hand he clutches a battered and dented fire extinguisher, it's red paint almost completely scratched off. And as Jack tries to get over the shock, Spider looks him directly in the eyes, his expression frighteningly calm. Before he's even able to open him mouth, Spider says: " Lo'ak said "no balls"." and without any further elaboration, he walks past the shocked and confused Na'vi, heading to reunite with his siblings.

As night grows closer, the clans return to the camps they had setup, theirs respective tsahík at the ready to tend to any injured warriors, only to find there where none, only the human child baring any kind of injuries. As everything settles down, murmurs and whispers about the boy filled air, reaching all the way to the tent where the same boy was both tended to and chewed out by Mo'at for doing something so stupid over a dare.

In a quiet corner of the camp, Jack stares off into nothing in particular, sparing a few glances at the fire extinguisher that they found Spider with, now comically small in hand. As much as he mulls it over, he still can't quite figure out what happened today.

That's the end.

Why did I write this shit? It's 3am, I should be sleeping.

I'M CACKLING. HIS FIRE EXTINGUISHER IS ALL POWERFUL AND HE WILL DEFEAT THE RDA WITH IT.

I love the idea of entire clans witnessing that shit, lol. Why no balls? It's so so close to being "fuck it, we ball," if you recall my Lo'ak and Spider finding out about gen-z slang and adopting it post. That would've sent me over the edge, haha.

[joeyleesblog]

Post 1 | Post 2 | Post 3 | Post 5 | Post 6

"Spider calm down..."

Spider doesn't want to calm down. He is unable to remain calm when his daughter is in the hands of RDA bastards. He doesn't want to be calm, he wants to rescue his baby.

But he can't and it's driving him crazy.

"Calm down? Calm down?! How the hell am I supposed to keep calm when my daughter's been captured?!"

"Monkey boy" Kiri instinctively tries to comfort him, but this time it doesn't work, Spider feels as if his heart is going to burst from sheer agony and terror for his daughter's fate. He has been in RDA hands before, he knows very well what will happen to Polo and it makes him terrified, irrational.

He rejects the comfort of his soulmate.

"No Kiri!" he screams. "My daughter is in the hands of people who will not hesitate to torture a child for information! They will torture her before they kill her! Ah! Ah for Eywa! My daughter!"

They will kill her. Spider knows, he knows, they're going to interrogate her and Polo's just going to open his mouth to send him to hell. So they're going to fry your brain until they get some information, anything, not caring that they're killing a kid for it. Oh for Ewya.

No. Spider won't just let that happen. Never. He's going to save his girl, even if it kills him, even if he has to blow up every RDA base.

[movietimegirl]

Spider: *Pop*

Quaritch:

Spider: *Pop*

Quaritch:

Spider: *Pop*

Quaritch: Oh! For five minutes.

Quaritch: Could you not be yourself…for FIVE minutes?!

...

Spider:...*Pop*

Quaritch: Gah!! Are we there yet?!

Wainfleet: Yes!

Spider: Oh, Finally!

[sullyfortress]

Imagine Lo’aks daughter being the exact same as him and Jake, always finding ways of putting herself in danger. Lo’ak nearly pulling his hair out in worry and stress while Jake is laughing his ass off at how the tables have turned. 🤣

Ok so just some general headcannons

Pey Pey + Ziri relationships to the other Sullys:

Jake:

He loves that Ziri has a rebellious streak and Lo'ak is experiencing the same terror that Jake did raising him. Ziri reminds Jake of Neytiri alot. Jake also as we know is a girl dad and has a soft spot for his granddaughter which does not help in her discipline(Yes he calls her babygirl). He and Neytiri often get in trouble covering for her or teaching her hunting skills that Lo'ak thinks she's too young for. Also he and Tonowari definitely get competitive trying to proove who's the best granddad.

Pey Pey is Jake's little man. He is a silent shadow of Toruk Makto. It's not uncommon to see Jake walking about given instructions and orders to his warriors fighting RDA with Pey Pey on his hip.

Pey Pey loves to mimic his granddad and definatly got the need to please Jake gene from Lo'ak. Like many in the family, Jake is very protective of Pey Pey, as he does remind him of Neteyam. This leads to frustration from young Pey Pey as he is coddled more than his sister.

Neytiri:

Badass grandma to the max. She often will buck against Lo'ak an Tsireya and join sides with Ziri. Especially when Ziri wants to take a warrior route while Tsireya wants her to take more of a pacifist path. Neytiri helps Ziri connect to her Omaticaya culture.

Ziri also really wants her own Ikran like grandma so Neytiri insists upon taking her on a field trip to Ayram alusìng(Floating Mountains) to get her own Ikran. To which Lo'ak says no because they are Metkayina she doesn't need an ikran and Neytiri raises hell going on and on about how she won't deny her granddaughter her culture!!!

Neytiri has a special love for Pey Pey as his sweet disposition reminds her of Neteyam. She spends time teaching him to braid and bead jewelry just as she taught Neteyam.

Also her and Ronal also compete over being the best grandmother.

Kiri:

Kiri has a closer relationship to Pey Pey than Ziri. Pey Pey's calm and inquisitive nature means he himself is more curious about Eywa and the life on pandora. Also with him being deaf, connecting with ilu's and other creatures gives him access to senses that he's never had before.

Kiri has become a mentor of sorts to Pey Pey and teaches him much of what Mo'at taught her about medicine and spiritual intuition.

Tuk:

While wild in her youth, Tuk actually becomes the responsible battle aunt. Tuk grew up to be a powerful warrior in the Metkayina clan. She loves to play from time to time, but growing up as a child in war did leave Tuk to be a little more precarious. Like many in the family, Pey Pey and Ziri remind her of Neteyam and Lo'ak. Which means she cares very deeply and very muchy hovers over her niece and nephew. But she also knows that fun and play are important distractions from war.

Spider:

He's the crazy uncle who encourages Ziri's rebellious nature. He also has a soft spot for little Pey Pey and makes sure to include him whenever he can. Pey Pey likes uncle Spider as he is coddled less with him.

Ziri calls Spider 'baby uncle' due to his small human size.

*Neteyam* Spirit: (Same relationships if he was alive)

When they are old enough to connect to the spirit tree, the kids meet their uncle.

Ziri loves to hear stories from her uncle about the Omaticaya forest and about her family when her father was a child.

Pey Pey, can speak through Eywa and therefore has a voice that only Uncle Neteyam can hear. He often shares insecurities and frustrations that he is unable to vocalize with the rest of the family. Neteyam and Pey Pey understand one another best in the Sully family as both are reserved and often put the needs of others before their own, and had a desire to please their fathers but always feeling out of reach of approval.

Pey Pey also feels insecure about not wanting to be 'a warrior'. He very much connects more with the role of a healer and worries he will disappoint Jake and Lo'ak.

Neteyam comforts and relates to him as he was forced into the perfect son role, but isn't sure that was really what brought him joy. (in my canon, Neteyam actually loved beading and jewelry making and had a lot of anxiety connected to the perfect warrior role).

[byunpum]

The new member | Part 5

Pair: Miles Quaritch (baby blue boii) x Human reader

tw: Teasing, mmmm miles being soft, Lyle bestie and spider, zdog being jealous, Quarith being upset.

POV: Y/N is sent from Earth to Pandora to be part of a particular group of people…

p.s. This story is created after the ship altercation. Neteyam never dies, the sullys are able to run away, but spider decides to go with his "father" to the base. All recoms are still alive.

Note: I can't…I try to make Zdog as mean, but I can't. She looks like such a good person…but whatever. This part was pretty short, because part 6 would be the end. This was supposed to be a short series, and it's already 5 parts long. I hope you like it!!!! yassss

AVATAR MASTERLIST | Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5

"We're part of what?" you felt the grip on your waist tighten. Quaricth's ears fell back. And his face reflected a look of terror. You weren't really upset by Z-dog's comments, she was always talking more than she should. You were upset because while they were investigating and taking custody of the caged animals, one of the PPA members handed you some papers. In those papers, there were photos of each of the recoms. There is also all their personal information, how they had created them and the goal they had with them.

You sigh a little, trying to explain everything to Quaritch. "I imagine you know some things…but not everything. You are part of an investigation, you are literally guinea pigs. I don't know what they will do with you. But in those documents…" You stop talking for a moment, at this point Quaritch had already gotten up off the floor. And he had taken some steps backwards, his hands were folded on his chest and his tail was on the floor, wagging slowly.

"In those documents they talk about…how they are going to eliminate you if in 3 years you don't achieve the expectations of their plan" You look up, all this time you were looking at the ground. You didn't want to be the one to tell him, but you had to. That's why you were here… to protect them.

"So you knew all this?" says Quaritch, his tone of voice rising a little. And his expressions had changed to one of anger.

" No, wait!!! I just found out" you try to approach him, but he takes a step back.

"Right…that's why you're here. To protect the damn animals…and that includes me" Quaritch shouts. This time, it's you who steps back. If Z-dog was intimidating, imagine Quaritch.

"MILES!!! I didn't know anything I swear… those papers were just handed to me. I'm only here to protect you guys, I'm not the villain" You try to take his hand, but he keeps pulling further away from you.

"The right thing to do… is for everyone to calm down. And let the PPA take custody of you" you speak.

"Custody? We're not animals Y/N" Quaritch yells. He was scaring you. You knew you didn't have to say these things, let alone like this. But it was the reality, if they were part of some investigations, they have to be safeguarded like the others… living creatures.

"I know… but it's protocol. I swear, they will not be treated like animals. Our goal is not that…but I need you to understand, that the RDA is just using you. Everyone on your team…they are using them." You are silent for quite a while…Quaritch is pacing from side to side, you can see how upset he was.

"Quaritch…you're not even you. You only have the memories of that person, and I know you fight every day with your subconscious, we…" you see how he turns and approaches you in giant steps. You stand still.

"No… I know who I am, and you're not going to come here and tell me who I am or how I should act. Just do your job" Quaritch speaks, his tone is threatening. You decide not to say anything, you knew he was on the defensive. Being told that you are just an experiment, and that you are now the property of the PPA. It must be difficult.

To your bad luck, half of the conversation you two had had was overheard by the Z-dog soldier, she decided to come out and apologize to you. But she was taken with this surprise. You turn around and see the woman approaching you. Oh no, this couldn't get any worse. "Is something wrong here?" asks the woman.

" No, let's just go" Quaritch says placing a hand on the woman's back and walking away. "Miles…please don't leave like this" you speak, but the man ignores you. You stand in the hallway in silence, thinking about what you did wrong. And you didn't do anything… you just want to protect him. At that you hear footsteps, and you turn to see spider approaching. "Hey…what's wrong? Why did they leave like that… they already finished picking up all the animals" says spider, the boy looked happy but his smile was gone when he saw your worried look.

"Spider… how do I make someone understand that I just want to protect him?" you speak, spider saw how you were turning red and your eyes were getting watery. "But what happened?" Spider didn't know anything about you and Quaritch, so you decided to tell him everything, cautiously of course. Because even though Spider was 'big' he still didn't have any malice in many things. The boy listened to you from beginning to end. When you finished explaining everything, the hallway became quieter as spider thought about how to answer you.

"So… you and my 'dad' are dating…" spider asks. " Well I thought so…" spider shuffles his hair and then starts talking. " And you found out about the RDA's plans with the recoms, and you told him about it and he got upset with you?" spider speaks up. " Yes, I was explaining to him that the PPA will take custody of them, but of course… he thinks we're treating him like an animal. But we're treating him like…" spider interrupts you, finishing your sentence. "Like a living human being. I understand," spider says, pulling you in for a hug.

"And they're going to be okay?" spider looks at you. "Yes, this change will happen in a few days" you say, pulling away from spider's embrace. As you see lyle approaching, he doesn't look upset. In fact, he was walking with his unique style. "Doll… I've been told. Is it true that the PPA will take custody of us?" asks lyle, approaching where you and spider were. You were surprised at how calm he was. How was it possible that he was taking it easy and Quaritch was not. "Who told you?" you ask. "Oh, it was the PPA custody team, they told us that in these days we will have to sign some things blah blah" lyle speaks. "And everyone took it well?" lyle looked at you and laughed a little. You knew that was a no, it was normal for them to feel that way.

" Honey… look" Lyle kneels down to be on your level. "I understand you… the colonel is furious. And some of the guys are too" lyle says. "Including zdog?" you look at him, raising an eyebrow. Spider laughs a little. "Including zdog, but let them be…they'll figure this is for the best. I don't feel like getting killed a second time" lyle says getting up. "Quaritch almost killed me, when I told him everything" you say, as spider comes over to give you another hug. You felt he needed a lot of love, so you hug him back. "The colonel has been having trouble adjusting to these new bodies, he'll understand - just give him space - don't worry your boyfriend will stop being mad at you," Lyle jokes. You stick your tongue out at him, spider copy you. "At least you have your stepson on your side," lyle continues to joke, and spider starts playing with him.

After talking for a long time in the hallways, you decide that you'd better pick up the food from the cafeteria and go eat it somewhere else. You knew that when you entered the cafeteria area you were going to meet everyone, so Lyle entered without causing any suspicion, took some food to eat, and left as if nothing had happened. You were watching the whole thing from a small glass window overlooking the table where he was. Quaritch looked annoyed, but lost in thought, he didn't even look at Lyle.

"Well… it's been a long day, see ya" you start to say goodbye to the men. "another question, they're going to give us good food right?" lyle asks, this causes you to tap him on the arm. "Lyle, no one is going to get them out of here… the RDA is going to change administrations. And I doubt the disgusting apple mash will change it" you make a disgusted face, and are joined by lyle and spider. At least you had two people on your side. You two escorted spider to his room and you and lyle walked together to the dorms. When you arrived you noticed that no one was there, there was only zdog sitting on the couches, reading some magazines.

Lyle said goodbye to you, ruffling your hair a bit, and saying a cute comment. Which made you laugh." Are you sure you want me to leave you with this lioness?" says lyle, giving a quick glance to where zdog is sitting." Yeah, don't worry. Go and rest" you say, as you push lyle to go to her room.

You stood there thinking silently, until you feel a look. You turn to confront the look. You watch as zdog gets up, and walks slowly towards you. " The night is beautiful" you say, watching as zdog stands in front of you, causing you to look up. "Custody?" she spits, she had this attitude of superiority. "I'll explain…this is what's best for you" you speak, until you feel zdog grab your forearm. He was squeezing hard, you knew he was going to leave a mark. "Listen to me you fucking rat…I want you away from the colonel" she spits, lifting you off the ground a little. You squeal, she was squeezing your arm so hard you felt it was going to break. "Let go of me!" you whine, and she throws you to the ground. You feel the blow on your spine. " I-I don't want to hurt him" you were getting up from the ground, but the woman pushes you down again. You decide to do nothing, she was three times your size, it was an unfair fight. "Leave him alone." You stayed silent, watching the woman walk away from you and walk to her room.You weren't going to fight or lose your patience. You knew quaritch wasn't interested in zdog, so you weren't going to fight.

Your arm and back hurt so much, you just lay there on the floor. It was to be expected that someone had heard something, the scream that came out of your mouth when you fell to the ground was very loud. While you were trying to relieve your back pain. You hear a door open. You looked up to see who it was, you were begging for it not to be zdog. You were surprised when you saw Quaritch. He stood in the door frame looking at you. "What happened?" Quaritch moves a little closer to you, but still keeps his distance. " Nothing… I'm surprised at how many enemies I've gained, and all I've done is help" you complain, trying to stand up from the floor. Just before you get up, your lower back fails and you fall back to the ground.

"Hey… be careful" says Miles, reaching over to lift you by the arm, But just before he touched you, he saw the hand mark z-dog had left. "She… did she do this?" asks the man, bending a little to lift you up by your sides and standing you up straight. "Who else is going to do… I can't fight her" you say, avoiding his gaze. You knew he was upset with you, but you are surprised when he reaches over and strokes your cheek. "I'm going to talk to her…she shouldn't have done this," Quaritch says, taking your arm to check on the bruise. "Don't tell her anything…I don't want to have any more run-ins with her" you say as you follow Quaritch, he is helping you sit on one of the couches.

You were sitting next to him, letting him touch and caress your arm. "Are you still upset? Lyle said…" Quaritch interrupts you and reaches over to your arm and places a kiss on the wound. "Yes…I'm still upset, but…I care about you" Quaritch says, pulling you closer to his body. Making you lie on him. "Just promise me…you won't do anything crazy with us" Quaritch says, you look up. You pull out of his grip and sit up on your knees to take his face in your hands. "It's going to be okay… we're going to take care of you. I'm going to take care of you" you reach up to give him a kiss on the tip of his nose. Miles laughs and reaches over to steal a kiss on your lips. "You're easy to get along Colonel" you tease him. "Only because it's you" Quaritch grabs you around the waist, making you giggle a little as he settles you in his lap.

"So …. you're going to take care of me" you see how he's laughing, as he launches himself to kiss your neck. Moving down to your chest, while one of his hands is already working down your shirt. "Yes, I'm going to take care of you".

"Hey… let's go to my room shall we?" you give him another kiss on the lips, as you start to get up from his lap. You hear him moan a little, he was purring. "You purr?" you look at him surprised. You didn't know he could do that, you had heard from some people that they were able to do that, but you had never noticed it.

"Of course not" quaritch says nervously, as he breathes in some oxygen from his mask. Shit, you made him so nervous. "Yesssss you were purring…my cute giant kitty" you speak hugging his waist, your face reaching just above his pelvis. "Careful precious…you're too close" Miles laughs, moving his hips forward. You lift up his shirt and give him a kiss right on his lower abdomen, making the man purr again.

You laugh a little, as you walk away, taking his hand to head to your room. This was already becoming routine for you. "This would be reconciliation sex?" asks Miles, stepping through the door frame. You just laugh and make him go all the way into your room, closing the door behind him.

Meanwhile, somewhere in the RDA facilities…

"Good evening general" says one of the employees of the research area. "Good evening" General Ardmore didn't usually ask for help in her plans, but this time it was necessary.

"May I know what you called me for, it's late" says the man. "I'm sorry…I know it's late. But I need your help" says the woman, settling down at her desk. "Do you know who Y/N is?" says the woman.

"Sure, she is the new member of the recoms squadron," says the man, already suspecting more or less what the general was going to ask him.

"Well, …. I need her to disappear or I need you to bring her back to earth. But I want her off the base" says the woman. She had a cold look on her face.

"General…that's impossible. The PPA is on top of us, they are not going to get their team out" the man speaks. In less than three weeks, the PPA was going to take over the GDR.

"I can't let the PPA come here and ruin everything," the woman says, raising her voice. "And what about Colonel Quaritch? He could help us," says the man trying to get out of the awkward situation.

"That man has lost his direction," says General Ardmore, as she takes a sip of her coffee.

The "I know I can change him" squad: @mechformers @cullenswife @littlethief78 @nieshiren @parasiiite @bxnnywriting @shelbythequeen @sassvy-blog-blog @shaylang21 @perfectgradient99 @jinx14 @elvyshiarieko @littlethingsinlife @ilovedoms @the-hufflebird-girl @ronia-entries @drinking-tea-and-be-obsessed @mechformers @perfectgradient99 @mad-simp420 @quaritchlvr @kittycow8875 @mjnij @ladylovegood-69 @dilfs-bitch @witchywannabe3263 @fanboyluvr @stickyfictioninwriting

[be-the-glenn-to-my-maggie]

You know what would be funny? While the RDA is obsessing over Pandora's resources and providing the rich assholes with ways to extend their wrinkled existence, the rest of humanity goes “Fuck this shit! Time to fix up our planet!” Like full on terraform Earth back to its former glory.

And so, while the RDA is spending billions to send ships to terrorizing the tall, blue people, the rest of the world is having its redemption arc up until like a year after the second movie, where they’re at the point where they can go “Yoooo, wtf is the RDA doing over there? Oh, they got bored with fucking us over so they moved to alien natives? Nah, send in the Balkan people (These mfs are built different I swear, they’ll just take a breath of pandoran air and go “Umm, spicy and refreshing”). They’re sent on their way (Let’s say they arrive in 1 year flat because screw physics, this is a joke post, mf are going 4 times ftl.), beat the ever living shit out of the Ahaa cartoon villains that are the RDA personnel and teach them some, you know, human decency, queue in the best apology video of all time, leave the blue people alone, boom mission accomplished. RDA gets sued to hell and back (You know, war crimes and all of that) and even more funding goes to fixing up Earth until its basically as we know it today.

Later down the line, the na’vi need help because of some disaster, humanity sends said help, some form of actual peace is formed, Spider becomes the ambassador of human/na’vi relationships (Guy had the glow up of the century, which tends to happen when you live in a time of peace again and people actually love and care for you “ahem, Spider Sully”) Human and Na’vi truly learn about each other (Ones aren’t uncivilized savages, but people with a unique cultures and deep history. Others aren’t advanced savages with boom sticks, but, you guessed it, people with a unique cultures and deep history.) and learn from each other.

And everyone lived happily ever after.

The end

(Very unrealistic, I know)  

Ugh, my dream. The terraforming Earth part, not the humans coming back. Because the whole movie is a colonization metaphor, I'm so tentative and iffy on the Na'vi needing or wanting any help or support from humanity.

But regardless, I am obsessed with the idea of humanity healing Earth. I know that we are cynical people and are always like "This is realistic, humans are selfish and would take advantage of Pandora as we did to Earth." And I totally get that, but I also love those humans are inherently good stories. I do think the majority of people care and have empathy about other people and their situations, and the majority of problems in the world are systematic and stem from ignorance. People are uneducated or are struggling with what they have to deal with on their own, and don't have the wherewithal to care about every single other thing that is such a gigantic systematic issue. I would love for people, for everyone, to just be like yeah this isn't okay anymore lets fix it. About anything and then everything. But I digress.

I love the idea of Spider Sully and Jake being a bridge between the Na'vi and humanity. I think Jake would have to be involved as well, because honestly Spider has never been to Earth and has never been with regular humans. My man knows no human culture or traditions, really. He's like, really Na'vi biased in that way, hilariously.

Spider: Na'vi culture is better and more important, obviously.

Someone: well, what is human culture.

Spider: clearly it's test tubes, guns, air lock doors, green paper, Jesus Christ, and also tank tops.

[naavispider]

Chapter 14 - If you playing me that mean my home aint home

The support on this fic has been so amazing I'm a puddle of gratitude 😭 I never, ever expected it to take off the way it has, and have really become attached to it.

There he lay, dead on the ground, eyes open and blood gently seeping from his chest.

"Get over here, now!" Quaritch called, anger like venom in his voice.

Spider couldn't breathe. He couldn't do anything, only stare. Quaritch was shouting furiously but Spider couldn't hear him. Next thing he knew, Quaritch was on him, pulling him away from the body towards the other recoms, where Mansk was lying on the ground, panting heavily to control the pain in his leg.

"No!" Spider shouted, pushing and pulling against Quaritch's grip. There was no way he was going anywhere with him. "Get off me!" he screamed, a sob finally breaking through his shock. "You killed him- You killed him-" he fought desperately to run from Quaritch's grip. He needed to be anywhere but here. Quaritch didn't say anything - he wasn't defending himself as he grabbed Spider's hands in one of his and roughly slapped on the red bindings again.

Spider sobbed in misery, falling to the floor - there was nothing else he could do.

The rest of the recoms were gathered over Mansk, anxiously assessing the situation and trying to help. Savine looked dead herself as she rummaged through the trauma kit, looking for something to stem the bleeding. Wainfleet was tying a tourniquet around Mansk's thigh, and Fike was injecting some kind of liquid into the skin around the wound. Quaritch left Spider on the ground and called into his communicator.

"Delta one, this is Romeo troop, over."

"Romeo troop, send your traffic," Spider heard in his earpiece.

"We require an immediate medical extraction. Mansk is down with a class 4 penetrative stab wound."

"What's your pos?"

"Sector 21, 51.5033° N, 0.1196° W."

"Stand by for extraction."

Quaritch moved over to Mansk and Spider panicked. Were they going back to base? No. He wouldn't.

He rose slowly, not caring about being seen, not caring if he'd get far. All he knew was that he couldn't stand another minute with the RDA. With Quaritch.

He bolted.

He had never ran so fast in his life. His breath burned as he flew through the forest, leaping over fallen logs, octoshrooms, boulders, roots and vines, pitcher plants; all of it a blur. He almost lost his balance with his hands tied but by some miracle managed to keep himself upright and travelling forwards at a pace he was sure he'd never reached before. It felt like his body was going too fast for his brain to keep up - surely he'd stumble soon? The recoms would catch up and he'd be shipped off back to the General and her death machine. It wasn't happening. Ignoring the raging stitch in his side he screamed as he pushed himself on.

He had no idea where he was going. He arrived suddenly at a creek which was too wide for him to jump, and too steep on the other side to scramble up. He veered right and started running parallel along its bank.

Terror tore at his insides as he heard shouting from behind him. His scream caught in his throat - it was Quaritch, in pursuit. How far behind him he was, Spider had no idea. His legs burned as he leapt over the forest debris; stones, rocks, spines and roots all abused his bare feet as he ducked under branches and vines, running through them without time to properly avoid them.

"Spider!"

Oh my God Oh my God Oh my God. Quaritch must be 30 or 40 yards behind. Spider knew he would eventually out-run him. He was only human. Sheer panic drove him on. He looked around as he ran, eyes wild, desperately searching for somewhere to hide. He was too terrified to stop though. He couldn't bring himself to do it. Seconds later, the creek seemed to widen and the bank on the other side looked less steep - now was his chance. Jumping the 10 or so feet down into the stream without caring whether he hurt himself, he landed in the wet, immediately screwing his ankle.

He couldn't hear anyone calling him anymore - had Quaritch given up? As soon as he thought it, Spider knew that was crazy. Blinded by his terror, he dragged his body up the other side of the bank and all pain from his ankle radiated away with renewed adrenaline. He was still going. It was difficult with his hands tied but he managed to clear the bank and then he was up, only now he realised how painful his breathing was becoming, how his legs ached - they could barely support him anymore.

Spider thought of the Na'vi man's face just before he died - the resolute way he had understood and agreed to help him - and Spider cried out again as he pushed his screaming body on. Over a boulder, across a log, and then he didn't know what came first.

"You dumb kid," a voice terrifyingly close behind him shouted in his ear, a hand closed down on his shoulder, he tripped and fell under the pressure, and then Quaritch's other hand was on his arm, grabbing him, holding him down. He cried out as he fought to get up, crawling forward as if he still had a chance. He would die before he gave up. The weight bearing down became too much and Quaritch had him pinned down. Spider gasped for air, already oxygen deprived as tears fell freely inside his mask. He reached one arm forward, clawing at the soil, still trying to escape.

"It's over." Quaritch was panting heavily on top of him. He flipped Spider over and Spider struggled with all his might. He couldn't face this. He wouldn't.

"It's over Spider," Quaritch puffed.

"Get off me!" Spider screamed.

The recom didn't reply, just held Spider's hands down in one of his, while speaking into his communicator with the other.

"You killed him! You killed- He didn't do anything!" Spider shouted, hissing and resorting back to Na'vi when English failed him.

Quaritch was ignoring him however, instead talking over the communicator words that Spider was uninterested in listening to. After several minutes of this, Spider felt his energy fading. A sob escaped him again and he realised there was no way out of this. He'd been so close. Twice.

"Did you forget about the tracker?" Quaritch demanded, turning his attention back down to Spider. "What did you think was gonna happen exactly? You'd run off to your little forest friends and get them to sacrifice themselves in the vain hope of getting you back?"

Spider closed his eyes, trying to roll away from Quaritch.

Quaritch shook his head, appraising the boy. "You just ruined my day."

Spider tried again unsuccessfully to pull his hands free.

"Colonel this is Delta One, standing by for extraction," came a voice from the communicator.

"Stand by, we are ten minutes inbound."

No. No. "Please," Spider tried, as Quaritch roughly lifted him up and dragged him into standing.

"Walk." Quaritch commanded.

"Fuck you."

Quaritch growled. Spider stood defiant. He wasn't going anywhere willingly. The recom pulled his AR around from its position slung across his back, and pointed it at Spider's leg.

The Colonel stared him down. "Let's try again, you walk your ass back to the clearing, or I'll put a hole through your leg. "

Spider stared. He looked from the rifle that was only inches away from his thigh, to Quaritch's face above, which was set completely in stone. Would you really do it? Spider didn't know. He had never seen Quaritch as pissed as he was now. He'd just killed a man. Quaritch's eyes were black, deep and filled with fury.

Spider jumped as Quaritch fired a round of bullets at a spot only a foot away from Spider's leg.

"I ain't kidding, kid."

With no choice, Spider gasped as he turned around, trying to work out the direction back to the squad. Quaritch shoved his shoulder with the end of his gun.

"Move," he growled.

And so Spider did.

He walked in a dream-like haze back through the forest, having no idea which direction to take and relying only on Quaritch's shoves to guide him. The adrenaline had started to wear off now, and he started shivering from the thick layer of sweat that covered his body. He could put less and less weight on his ankle the longer they walked. His mask beeped, warning him that his oxygen was below 20%. Neither of them said anything.

What would happen now? Spider felt like he was walking towards his death. He had to accept whatever would come. Making peace with his fate was the only way he could get through this.

"Delta one, stand by, we are one minute to arrival," Quaritch spoke into the silence.

"Received, ready and waiting, over," came the response.

Spider closed his eyes as he stepped over an octoshroom, accepting this would probably mean the Death Machine again. He tried to calm his heartbeat, to savour every breath of filtered forest air before- well, before he might never see the daylight again. He focused on the feel of the forest floor under his feet, the soft moss, even the stones that caused so much pain under his already bloody feet were a welcome distraction from thinking about going back to the RDA as a prisoner.

Eventually, the sounds of the aircraft filtered through the canopy and they reached the area where two ropes were already dangling from high above. Spider looked up, unsure he could go through with it. One of the ropes had a harness attached.

"Put it on," Quaritch instructed, his rifle still trained on Spider. Spider unclipped the main buckle and fastened it back around his waist. He did the same for the straps around his thighs, and Quaritch clipped the harness he was already wearing on. Then they were away.

Spider gasped and clung to the rope that was lifting him up, higher and higher, away from the forest floor, until they were clear of the dense trees. The wind from the aircraft engines was deafening, and Spider's body convulsed with shivers he knew had nothing to do with the cold. Then they were inside the belly of the Dragon Gunship and doors slid closed beneath them. Humans in masks swarmed on top of Spider, grabbing his hands and unclipping him from the harness. They pulled him away in the direction of the left side airlock, and he could see on the right hand side of the hanger a large group of people - humans and Na'vi - huddled around what looked like the injured Mansk.

"Take him to a cell," Quaritch spat to the humans who were gripping Spider.

Spider caught Quaritch's eye as the recom watched them drag him away. Disgust was plastered over Quaritch's face, and his eyes betrayed... could it be disappointment?

Spider hissed at Quaritch as his final parting words, before summoning his last remaining strength to punch the nearest human in the face, managing to damage their mask and give them a bloody nose, as he was pulled through the airlock to await his uncertain fate.

[naavispider]

Part 2! As requested by @lumina-luceat 💙 CW: body injury, blood

Spider groaned over Quaritch’s back as the Colonel raced down the deck of the ship and into the nearest airlock. He didn’t stop to entertain the squad’s confused and shocked faces, he didn’t stop to issue further commands. He didn’t even stop to pick up a rebreather when the airlock pinged green - he simply readjusted his hold on Spider’s body, gripping him tighter when his hands started to slip on the warm blood pooling down his side. Trying to ignore the sheer terror that the sensation brought, Quaritch headed straight for the medbay. 

He could barely believe the culmination of circumstances that brought him here. The fact that Lyle had shot Spider was almost as unbelievable as Sully’s kids handing him over. Would they come back for him? The younger one had looked set on it, but they never attempted a rescue mission when Spider was at Bridgehead. It didn’t matter. Quaritch would crush them if they tried. 

As for Lyle…

Freezing cold fury blasted through Quaritch’s veins as he banged on the door to the medbay, yelling obscenities for the staff to open the clear door. He couldn’t think about Wainfleet, not while his… not while Spider was bleeding out in his arms. 

“Lay him down here!” One of the medics shouted, leading the way to an empty bedspace. 

Quaritch had never cursed his body so much as when he tried to move quickly inside the small space, tables and beds and people in his way. He did as the woman instructed, cradling Spider’s head as he pulled the adolescent off his shoulder and onto the gurney. His face was pale, his eyes half closed. The left side of his body was coated in crimson, and blood tracks leaked down into his hair from where he’d been carried over Quaritch’s shoulder. 

Quaritch knew Spider. He was a tough kid. But this… this was a tier 1 field injury. Spider needed the best possible care immediately if he was to survive. Looking at his boy like this, numb to the hurried chatter and evacuation sirens blaring around him, he realised that he simply couldn’t imagine a world without having to look out for the kid. For months, Spider had been the first thing he thought about when he woke up, and the last thing he worried about at night. He remembered a time when that position had been filled by Jake Sully. Spider had changed all of that. 

Quaritch couldn’t care less about Sully now. 

His days had been spent trying to fulfil his RDA issued mission while at the same time harbouring his own mission to get the kid to hate him less. Dealing with Spider was a full time job - one that Quaritch had come to actually enjoy. Only now did he realise that he wasn’t sure what his new life looked like without it. 

“What happened?” The same brunette medic asked Quaritch. 

Quaritch snapped out of his reverie in time to answer honestly. “He was shot by an M69-AR.” He wasn’t sure why he gave the gun specification. It seemed like something they might need. Even if they didn’t, it was all Quaritch could do for Spider now. 

“How are we on bloods…?”

“...prepping for surgery…”

“We have to evacuate…”

Quaritch finally understood what it meant to be truly powerless as the medics swarmed around Spider, pushing him away and out of reach of the kid, jabbering medical terminology and making life or death decisions in the sinking ship’s underbelly. 

“Get him stable, we can transfer him to Bridgehead from here…”

It didn’t even occur to Quaritch to worry about the implications of returning Spider to Bridgehead, not after the boy was so close to getting back to those savages he called his ‘family’. He made a mental note to allow Spider to attempt to beat the shit out of him if he pulled through. Anything, as long as Spider survived. 

Only when the medics pulled off Spider’s exopack to attach an oxygen mask to his face did Quaritch realise that he himself needed a rebreather. It wasn’t even a question of going to get one - he’d just have to hold his breath. He wouldn’t leave Spider like this. 

Spider made a pained noise as the medics manoeuvred his arm into a better position to stem the blood flow, and Quaritch caught sight of the sinewy mess left behind from Wainfleet’s bullet hole. He had to stop himself from gagging, even after the countless war casualties he’d seen in his previous life. The kid would be lucky to have an arm left. The recom guns were designed for Na’vi targets, and were sized accordingly. Bile rose in Quaritch’s throat but he swallowed it down quickly, not allowing his emotions to impede his functionality. 

Spider made a noise that sounded like he was trying to scream, but it was muffled by his lack of awareness and mask over his mouth and nose. 

“Pain meds?” Quaritch demanded suddenly of the doctor that seemed like she was in charge. He grabbed her upper arm. “Are you giving him pain meds?” 

The doctor recoiled from Quaritch’s grip, brows creasing in an alarmed fashion as she shook her head. “No, Sir, we’re in the process of anaesthetising him.”  

He let go, seeing the shock on the doctor’s face, hoping he hadn’t bruised her from his tight hold. He wanted to apologise, but the words were lost on him. Even if he could form them, he knew they’d never make it past his voice box. 

“Sir!” A louder, lower and harsher voice joined the throng of staff around Spider’s bed. Quaritch spun around, recognising the voice as someone from the squad. Ja was hurrying into the medbay, a look of utmost concern on his usually calm and collected face, holding a rebreather. Team Deja Blue’s medic held it out wordlessly, looking upon the scene with his Colonel. 

“You saw the wound?” Quaritch asked in a low voice, not taking his eyes off Spider. 

Ja nodded, then verbalised his answer when he realised the Colonel wasn’t looking. “Yes.”

“Is he gonna make it?” Quaritch fought hard to keep his voice steady, grounded. 

“He’s a fighter,” Ja answered, tactically avoiding the question. “If anyone was going to pull through, he would.”

“Sir,” a staff nurse came over to them, not sure who to address. “He’s stable, but he’s lost a lot of blood. We don’t have enough onboard, so he’ll be transferred by Scorpion to Bridgehead.”

Quaritch’s heart both sank and lifted at the same time. It was the weirdest feeling, and one that he didn’t appreciate at this moment in time. Spider was stable… for now. He turned to Ja, a man he trusted with his own life. “Go with him.”

Ja nodded once, understanding written across his face. 

It wasn’t that Quaritch didn’t trust the humans with Spider… he knew they had adequate training and were better adept at treating human sized injuries than recom hands could,  but he’d feel a whole lot better about it if Spider had someone he knew go with him, even if he was unconscious. More than that, Quaritch knew that Ja would look after Spider. 

Ja leapt straight into action, conversing with the medics over what drugs Spider had already been given, and what the care plan was while travelling. He was in his element. “Tell me when you’re ready to move…”

At this, Quaritch finally took a step back from where he’d been rooted to the spot. It felt like the weight of the world was crashing down on his shoulders, and instead of stepping gracefully back, he stumbled awkwardly towards the wall. There was nothing he could do for his kid. Spider just had to be strong now. 

The only thing left for Quaritch to do was sort out the person who’d done this. The one man responsible for almost collapsing Quaritch’s whole world. 

His best friend. 

His most trusted partner.

Wainfleet.

Hello🥹

“Bullets sped past Spider’s face and shoulders, and he hunched down desperately to avoid being shot.”

So I just read your story and it’s something I didn’t know I needed. I really like how you write angst so how about switching place between Neteyam and Spider. What if Spider got shot by Lyle? How do you think Quaritch would react?

He barely had time to let out his gasp of surprise when something struck his shoulder. It was fast, powerful, and the force of it threw Spider to the floor. He didn't know what had happened, even as his left side upper arm suddenly burst in an explosion of pain.

He tried to catch his breath as he struggled to pull himself forwards on the cold, metal floor, but the sight of something red dripping down in large splotches sent him into panic mode. He looked down at his shoulder, seeing the injury for he first time.

Shit.

Blood was flowing freely from an open bullet hole, tearing open his skin in a red, sticky, sinewy mess. His head went dizzy and he was vaguely aware of Lo'ak's voice calling his name. He tried to focus on the sound of his brother's words to distract him from the pain blossoming there with every second.

"Bro, come on, we got you," Lo'ak was calling, his arms around Spider's waist and other shoulder. When had the gunfire stopped?

"Put him down!" Someone shouted. The voice was angry, threatening - Quaritch.

Lo'ak ignored him as he pulled Spider to his feet. Spider allowed his brother to bear most of his weight - it was all he could do to keep from vomiting with the pain. His breaths came in hisses, which only intensified when the sound of gunfire resumed. Spider tried to see through the fog that was obscuring his vision, and thought he could see Neteyam with a raised AR, firing back in the direction of the recoms. Spider tried to pull himself together. This was life or death.

"Ahh!" he groaned as Lo'ak pulled him onwards, away from Quaritch and Wainfleet, towards the moon pool.

"Come on bro, you're good, you're good," Lo'ak was shouted over the gunfire from beside him. Spider grasped hold of his shot up arm with his right hand, trying to do anything to stem the pain.

"Fuck!" he stuttered.. "Who... who shot me?"

"Bro!" Lo'ak shouted, amazed that was the first question Spider had. "I think the one with sunglasses!"

Spider snorted to himself even through his moan of agony when Lo'ak pulled him forwards and the jerk rippled right through Spider's left shoulder. The gunshots stopped, and Neteyam caught up to them, breathless and urging the pair on.

"Going as fast as I can bro," Spider groaned.

"I know, I know, let's get to the moon pool!" Neteyam encouraged fearfully. Spider could tell the danger wasn't over yet.

As if on cue, shouts caught up to them from behind.

"Let him go boys!"

That was Quaritch. Fuck.

"He needs a medic, you can't give that to him!"

Neteyam pulled them into an alcove that sheltered them from the approaching recoms. They were still far from the moon pool. The voices were getting closer. Wait. Just one voice. Spider fought to keep his eyes open.

Lo'ak looked at Neteyam, fear reflected perfectly behind the older boy's eyes, although he masked it under a guise of calm. Always the leader.

"Give him back to me, and no one gets hurt!" Quaritch was getting steadily closer.

"Don't," Spider groaned, silently begging his brothers not to listen.

"I can save him. There's no escape with you. He won't make it to shore."

Lo'ak and Neteyam exchanged a look. Both wandered what the other was thinking. A few more steps and Quaritch would round the corner and find them.

"Throw your gun!" Neteyam yelled around the wall.

Lo'ak stared at his brother. What was Neteyam thinking? Was he really going to give Spider back?

They waited a moment, then heard an angry growl, and the sound of a rifle hitting the floor and being kicked across the deck. The brothers stared wide-eyed at each other, and Spider slumped lower in Lo'ak's grasp.

"Spider!" Lo'ak prompted, shaking him slightly and pulling him back up. But it was no good - Spider's eyes weren't opening.

"I'm unarmed - just give the boy back. You two can get off the ship, no harm, no foul."

Lo'ak gulped. They couldn't leave Spider - could they?

He could see it in Neteyam's face. The realisation, the resolution. "Neteyam?" he whispered. "We're not leaving him!"

"We don't have a choice Lo'ak!" Neteyam hissed back. "Quaritch is right! Spider won't make it to shore!"

"Shoot me and Spider won't get help!" Suddenly Quaritch had rounded the corner, was facing them, staring at the three boys backed into a corner, with his hands raised.

Lo'ak hissed. Neteyam grunted, raising his AR to point directly at Quaritch's heart. Quaritch's eyes widened at the sight of the blood that now covered Lo'ak's side, drenching Spider's exopack strap, but it was quickly hidden by a strategic, determined reassurance. He needed to get Spider back.

Quicky.

"Kids, he's bleeding out. We can delay this as long as you like, but it won't save Spider."

Lo'ak and Neteyam didn't want to take their eyes off Quaritch, both fixed on him like he was a viper about to strike. Neteyam raised his hand to Lo'ak's arm. "Lo'ak," he whispered.

At this, Lo'ak broke his stare down of the recom to glare at his brother. "No!"

"Lo'ak," Neteyam said again, voice harder, more resolute. He slung his AR over his back and slowly moved to take support of Spider from his brother. Lo'ak watched with anger, confusion and desperation behind his eyes.

Quaritch raised his hands higher in defeat as he took a tentative step forwards, towards Neteyam and Spider. When neither of the boys reacted, Quaritch closed the gap and grabbed Spider in his arms, throwing the kid over his shoulder and backing away, slowly at first, then quicker, once he was sure Neteyam wasn't going to shoot him. He turned tail and had to stop himself from sprinting to the med bay, uncaring what became of the Na'vi boys, panic for Spider overcoming all of his senses, blinding him to the soldiers rushing past him on the way to join the fight, and deafening him to the communications in his earpiece.

Sully be damned.

[naavispider]

Chapter 28 - If you playing me that mean my home aint home

The flight took less than 5 minutes from the boat to the shore, and in that time Spider had taken 102 breaths and Quaritch had informed him of the key details of the upcoming raid. Spider appreciated at least having a rough idea of the plan this time. 

“If the Olo’eyktan refuses to talk, we threaten the Tsahik, just like last time. But if there’s someone younger, more vulnerable, expect them to get caught up in it as well,” Quaritch warned. 

“Kids?” Spider asked, the alarming thought crossing his mind suddenly.

“We’ll only threaten,” Quaritch answered. 

Spider shook his head in disbelief at the RDA’s cruelty. “Shit.”

They landed on the beach just as they had that morning, only now the clouds were darkening overhead. It would be dusk soon. 

Spider leapt off without waiting for Quaritch, landing agilely in the sand and standing up to a sight of complete deja vu. 

They made their way forwards, right into the heart of the village it seemed. Soldiers had already been in and corralled most of the onlooking Ta’unui. They were being held back by a cordon of armed marines carrying raised rifles and flamethrowers. The humans were having to fire regular warning shots to keep the villagers at bay, and as Spider and the recoms passed them, a couple broke free from the line, about to attack, before being jabbed by the electric rods that Spider had first seen yesterday. When the Ta’unui man was struck by the baton his whole body convulsed and spasmed as he fell to the floor, screaming. 

Spider gasped, tears welling in his eyes. Fuck. 

The Olo’eyktan and Tsahik were waiting for them near one of the shelters that rested near a mangrove. They were bound and kneeling, just as the pair from the morning had been. 

“<Take them out!>” the Olo’eyktan was crying, and to Spider’s horror, he caught sight of what the man was referring to. 

Crying at the back of the shelter were two Ta’unui children, who couldn’t be older than four or five. To Spider, they looked like twins. Their faces were certainly an exact mirror of terror and fright when the recom squad walked in. Spider’s heart plunged to the floor. 

“Shut up!” a human with a stun gun yelled fiercely at the man in response. 

“ Mawey ,” Spider called over to the kids. His voice broke. “<Be still, everything will be alright.>” He tried to sound confident, but he thought it just came out desperate. 

All eyes turned to him as he addressed the children, and their small eyes peered up at him in fear and confusion when they realised this alien could talk to them. 

Catching on, their parents capitalised on this quickly.

“<Please! Please take the children out! Don’t hurt them, we’ll do anything you ask!>” The Tsahik addressed Spider directly, and he was so shocked to be spoken to as if he was the one in charge, that he momentarily forgot how to speak. 

“<It will be okay,>” Quaritch allowed Spider to continue. “<These people just want to ask you something,>” he glanced towards Quaritch, who seemed to take that as a cue to begin the interrogation. 

“Jake Sully. Toruk Makto. <Where is he?>” Quaritch started, as Wainfleet passed him the screen showing Jake’s face. 

The leaders’ eyes widened. “<We don’t know!>” the Tsahik replied. “<Please, you have wasted your time. We have never seen him before!>”

At Quaritch’s look, Spider translated. “They haven’t seen him. We’ve come to the wrong village.”

“Nope,” Quaritch replied confidently. “I think they just don’t understand.” The man crouched down, so he was at eye level with the kneeling Olo’eyktan. “Look,” he began again. His voice seeped with feigned sympathy. “<I don’t want to hurt you. We don’t want to hurt you. But. We need the information. When you tell us, we leave.>”

Ordinarily Spider would have been impressed with the level of Na’vi that Quaritch was able to use now, but his gaze was trained on the cowering children at the back. They were a boy and a girl, clinging to each other. Two humans stood over them, electric rods raised and ready to strike if they moved. 

“Tell him as soon as they tell us, we leave.”

Spider was brought back to the clan leaders’ attention as he closed his eyes to translate the words. 

“<We do not know!>” the Olo’eyktan repeated, as the woman beside him wept. 

Spider looked at Quaritch despairingly, pleading with his eyes for them to back off now. 

“Hmm.” Quaritch was quiet. He was considering something. 

The whole assembly held their breath. 

“Bring me one of the tykes,” he told one of the soldiers guarding the kids. 

No.

“ Kehe! ” The parents wailed as the soldier standing nearest to them began to reach for the little girl. 

Lots of things happened at once. Mansk and Savine moved closer to hold the clan leaders down as they struggled to break free. Wainfleet and Fike quickly backed them up, ensuring the Olo’eyktan and Tsahik were firmly pressed against the floor. Spider lunged forward, pushing over the human who had grabbed the Na’vi girl. He hissed as he pushed the child behind him. The other human immediately moved to overpower Spider, brandishing the electric rod, sparks flying. The sound sent cackles through the air, and Spider’s eyes widened. That shit looked painful. 

“Shit!” he exclaimed, now finding himself in a stand-off between the human marines and the Na’vi children. He had no weapon, just his bare hands, which were held aloft in front of him against the soldiers. 

“Okay.” Quaritch held his hand out to calm the situation. “Let’s everybody just take it down a notch.”

“No one touches the kids,” Spider announced firmly, not taking his eyes off the soldiers in front of him. 

The rest of the recom team were too occupied keeping the Olo’eyktan and Tsahik on the floor. He had the upper hand. 

“<It will be okay,>” Spider whispered behind him. 

“Alright, I hear you Spider, okay?” Why did Quaritch sound preoccupied? Something was wrong. 

Spider had realised a second too late. Fike had left the team holding down the Tsahik, and was standing right behind the kids, out of Spider’s line of sight. The man lunged for the little girl, grabbing her in one fluid motion as Spider spun around. 

“No!” he cried, pouncing forwards to protect, but something struck him from behind. Something cold. He had no idea he had been stunned until he hit the ground. 

His whole body seized up, he couldn’t move - he couldn’t breathe. His muscles spasmed and cramped agonisingly for seconds that lasted years. “Ahh!” he screamed, as soon as his body relaxed, crawling away from the source of the attack. “Fuck!” 

“That’s enough!” Quaritch roared, grabbing hold of the marine who had shocked Spider, and picking him up in both hands, completely lifting him off the ground before slamming him down to the floor with as much force as his powerful arms were capable of. But Quaritch wasn’t done. The Colonel picked the soldier up again, and this time threw him completely clear of the shelter. The man crumpled to the ground ten feet away on the sand, unmoving. 

Spider could do nothing except try and force shuddering breaths in while his body recovered. 

“Please, not the kids…” he begged. 

Quaritch looked him over, and Spider did his utmost to sit up, still gasping slightly. He hated the way the man’s eyes were filled with concern - soft around the edges and open, searching for signs of injury. Hypocrite . 

Quaritch seemed to decide something after a moment, because he moved away, back to the little girl struggling against the marine. 

“<Hello,>” he bent down to get as close to her eye level as possible. She was clearly terrified. “<My name is Quaritch. Your mother and father have been very bad. This man - Jake Sully, Toruk Makto, Olo’eyktan of the Omatikaya. Where is he? He is in this village?>”

“<Get away from her!>” growled the Tsahik. The Olo’eyktan let out a string of curses and threats, some of which were unintelligible even to Spider. 

The girl’s eyes overflowed with tears as she shook her tiny head, braids swinging. 

“You got what you want!” Spider called. “Now let her go!” he scrambled over to the little boy, and surprisingly no one stopped him. He touched the boy’s arm, trying to comfort, not wanting to scare him further. “<It will be okay, it will be okay.>”

The boy whimpered before him. 

Quaritch growled. “Move out!” he roared, once again commanding the burning of the village. 

Spider saw the little boy and girl returned to their parents once the recoms backed off, but had to turn his back as the sobs of the reunited family triggered something deep down in his bones. 

The squad moved out, only the one other human stopping to check on his fallen comrade. Spider didn’t hang back. 

As he followed Quaritch along the beach, he did his best to just not think about it. If he ignored the last half an hour, pretended it never happened, it couldn’t affect him, right?

So Spider cleared his mind and focused instead on putting one foot after the other. The sand was soft and more difficult of a texture to walk on. It didn’t help that his calves already felt like they were on fire, and his thighs burned with the effort to keep up. 

As they returned to the ikran, the smell of burning filled Spider’s mask like a poison from the flaming village, which was illuminating the now dark sky. He coughed, trying to clear the mask of it, but it was useless. 

Hopelessness bubbled up his throat, threatening to overcome him. But Spider was strong; he pushed it down forcefully. He would not break again. 

He reached Cupcake before he realised, stopping short. Quaritch came up behind and before he could react, had lifted him up with both hands onto the animal. 

“You alright kid? You hurt?” Quaritch asked once he was also mounted. 

Spider shook his head in response. 

What a lie.

Sadly for Spider, Quaritch attempted conversation as they flew back to the waiting ship. “You know, I never wanted you to get hurt.”

Spider ignored him. He couldn’t be bothered to entertain this. He’d been pushed, grabbed, drugged and shocked, all with only a couple of hours sleep the night before. It felt like years ago that he had asked Quaritch to stay in his room with him while he struggled to recover from that nightmare. Night terror , Quaritch had called it. Spider laughed a short, sarcastic laugh. Add that to the day ones. 

Quaritch misinterpreted this. “You do know that, don’t you kid?”

Spider groaned. “Enough!” he said. “I don’t care! I don’t give a shit what you believe, if you were any type of father you’d listen when I told you I would always hate you.”

Now it was Quaritch’s turn to fall quiet. Thank Eywa. 

Night had fallen in earnest by the time they landed. Artificial lights illuminated parts of the deck, but the lack of any plant life to bioluminesce made the place feel creepy and dead.

Spider thought he had never been in a place so dark before, stranded out at sea. 

He climbed off the ikran as the rest of the squad swooped down. 

“We camp out on deck tonight boys,” Quaritch stated. The squad went off to retrieve their packs from wherever they’d stored them while the ikran screeched goodbye by flying off into the night.

Where did that leave Spider?

Quaritched seemed to have the same thought. He turned the boy. “It’s 18:34, you stick with us until later. Then you can sleep inside the ship if I think you’ll be cool.”

Spider let out a disbelieving laugh as he shook his head in annoyance. He needed to be babysat, even on a boat in the middle of the ocean. Of course.

They moved towards the starboard side of the deck, which was a large, clear area. Slumping down to sit at the railings, he swung his legs over the edge and watched the water. The ship was travelling further out to sea, but the wind wasn’t strong. The water glowed where the edge of the ship cut through the waves, but other than this and a flood light on deck, it was completely dark. Despite his repressed terror at being alone on the vast ocean, he dangled his legs down and began to look for creatures in the waves. 

He had expected to see animals resembling dolphins or whales, perhaps leaping out of the water like he’d seen in old Earth TV shows, but there was nothing.

The sea was empty and black. Spider shivered. He wondered if this was normal, or whether the sea creatures just knew to stay away from the alien ship.

The noise of chatter and laughter brought his attention back on board. He turned around to see the recoms lighting a fire in some sort of container, and setting their packs around it for the night. 

“Hey kid,” Savine called over. “You wanna try the game again?”

Spider turned and shook his head. He was so tired. 

Another wave of pent up emotion coursed through his insides, but Spider had become skilled at pushing these away. Like earlier, he pressed it down, focusing on the here and now. He realised his head was starting to get dizzy from tiredness. He couldn’t stay where he was in case he drifted off and fell overboard, so he picked himself up and moved to slump against a wall near the warmth of the fire. He just wanted to close his eyes. He knew sleep was coming, fast. He was almost embarrassed about it. 

He lay his head against the hard wall, and brought his knees up to his chest. He closed his eyes, so ready to escape this reality. 

“Nah-ah, you’re not falling asleep like that.” Quaritch had spotted him. Spider opened his eyes to see the man rummaging in his pack for his jacket, from which he also pulled out Spider’s own spare clothing and a nutrient bar. “Eat this first,” Quaritch ordered. 

“I’m not hungry,” Spider said without any emotion, but he was betrayed by the rumbling of his stomach. 

He sighed, irritated as Quaritch smirked at him. He grabbed the bar and managed to eat it by only taking his mask off twice. It was such an annoyance. 

“You happy now?” Spider growled harshly. He did nothing to soften the hatred in his voice. 

Quaritch handed him the clothes as a pillow and threw the jacket over Spider’s abused body. 

As soon as Quaritch’s back was turned, Spider’s eyes closed. He didn’t even think to check his oxygen before he passed out completely.