chapter seven
Chapter Seven
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You had woken up an hour early today, your stomach coiling with anticipation. Today, you had a video call with Dr. Grace Augustine.
You’d met her briefly before, of course. She was the director of the Avatar Program, and oversaw everyone. Even from Hell’s Gate, she was technically your boss’s boss. You were something of an interest to her, having managed to worm your way into the Metkayina’s good graces. And Grace Augustine wanted to speak with you.
Felix was in the lab when you got there, spinning in his chair.
“Hey,” you greeted. Felix’s avatar healed quickly. He was growing antsy in the lab. You saw him a lot less, having spent majority of your waking hours in the link bed learning the daily routine of the Metkayina. Honestly, you were starting to miss him.
“Hey yourself,” he said. “Did you get a bizarre email from Augustine too?”
Your eyebrows raised in surprise. “Oh, I feel less special now. Thought she wanted to talk to me alone.”
“Yeah, not sure what it’s about,” he said, turning to type on his computer. “Want me to pull up the video?”
You shrugged. “Sure.”
Felix typed on his computer, pulling up a screen and dialing Grace’s contact. She appeared on screen almost instantly, cigarette hanging out of her mouth.
“Do you have any idea how lucky you are?” she said immediately.
“Me?” you asked, feeling a little dumbfounded.
“No, Bugs Bunny over there,” she rolled her eyes. “Okay, tell me everything you know about the Na’vi, not just the Metkayina. All of them. The culture might be different, but the fundamentals are almost the same.”
Felix jumped in before you could say anything, “Not that I’m not flattered to be here, but why exactly, am I here?”
Dr. Augustine sighed, flicking her cigarette and rubbing her eyes with her free hand. “Because I am out of options, and you are the only two morons I have on hand. One of you has lucked her way into a Na’vi clan so reclusive we didn’t know about them for 10 years after we landed—and the other makes maps.”
“First of all, I do not make maps,” argued Felix. “Second of all, it was bound to happen anyway, Gracie. First day here and Hana already befriended a tulkun.”
Your eyes widened, turning to glare at him. “Felix!” you hissed.
Augustine leaned forward, looking intrigued. “I’d heard rumors, but nothing solid behind you met a tulkun.”
“Yup, Hana here bonded with her. In the Na’vi sense,” continued Felix, oblivious to your growing horror.
“Holy shit,” breathed Augustine. “Is that why the Metkayina accepted her so easily?”
“Obviously,” chided Felix.
Unable to stand it, you finally cut in, “You can’t tell anyone about her.”
“Hey,” reassured Felix. “Grace is one of the good ones. We’ve been friends for a while now. She wants the same thing we do. The Na’vi and the tulkun need to be protected. You getting in with the Metkayina is an important first step. Grace was working closely with the Omaticaya until recently.”
At the mention of the shooting, Grace’s face dropped. “That should have never happened,” she said darkly. “Felix, as annoying as he is, is right. The only way we can protect these people is by starting a dialogue with them. To do that, we need to build a relationship with them.”
You swallowed, your mind drifting to Ame, Tsonu’e… Ronal.
Finally, you nodded. “Alright, how can I help?”
Grace smiled. “First, we need to get Felix there too. The more of us they trust, the better.”
You exhale slowly. “I can’t promise anything, the clan is neutral on me at best.”
“Hana,” said Felix. “Take your time. This isn’t something that needs to be rushed. Trust takes time. Earn theirs.”
.
Tsonu’e has already left for the day by the time you finish your meeting with Grace and Felix. You dart out of the marui, nervous about being late. Tsonu’e is patient, but you don’t want to push too far and disappoint her.
You nearly collide with Ronal, and reach out unconsciously to steady her and yourself. “Oh,” you breathe. “I’m sorry. Are you okay?”
She looks away quickly, shifting nervously.
“Here,” said Ronal, holding out her hand. As she opened it, there, in the palm of her hand were two earrings, similar to the ones she had been wearing when you’d first met her yesterday.
The earrings were lovely, and had clearly been crafted out of a shell. The soft oranges were stunning, parts of it looked iridescent. You grinned at her.
“Are these for me?” you asked.
She looked away, frowning. “You said you did not have any.”
“They are beautiful,” you reassured her.
Ronal cleared her throat, shifting back on her feet. “Today,” she said suddenly. “We are going to gather plants—medicine.”
The grin on your face threatened to break it in half. “We can meet by the ilu?”
Ronal offered a short nod. You heart soared before it came crashing down. “I’m not very good with them yet.”
“You may ride with me,” she said firmly.
You swooned a little. “Okay,” you replied, trying not to sound too giddy. “Let me go tell Tsonu’e, I’ll meet you by the ilu soon, okay?”
Ronal watched you go, and much like the other night, her gaze burned. Your queue tingled.
.
Tsonu’e merely smiled coyly when you said you were going to assist Ronal with gathering plants.
“What?” you asked her, wanting to stomp your foot impatiently. She looked at you knowingly.
“With Ronal?” she repeated, as though she hadn’t heard you well enough the first time.
“Yes!” you said. “I need to practice my diving too.”
Tsonu’e nodded thoughtfully. “Go then,” she waved you off. “Find me a nice shell.”
You beamed at her. “Thank you!”
Tsonu’e’s laugh chased you down the beach. Your feet pounded on the sand, leaving four toed imprints. A few Metkayina turned to watch you pass, but for the most part, you went unacknowledged. You thought this was probably the best way—you’d always been more of a wallflower. Quiet.
Ronal was arriving as you were, her pace leisurely.
“Ronal,” you greeted her. At the sound of her name, she paused, turning to look at you. “I see you.”
“I see you,” she greeted back.
“So,” you said. “Who’s ‘we’?”
Ronal hesitated slightly before saying, “Ìewii.”
Your nose crinkled involuntarily. Ìewii was one of the warriors. When Tsonu’e had first started teaching you to ride an ilu, Ìewii had been there. She wasn’t particularly friendly, and hadn’t softened to you at all.
“Oh,” you said, your thoughts racing. Doubt filled you, and you found yourself saying, “Maybe it’s best if I stay and help Tsonu’e. She was working on a large project. I’ll see you later, Ronal.”
You turned quickly, darting back to your marui before she could say anything. You wanted to kick yourself when you got back. Frustration coiled in your chest, and you spent the rest of the day angry. Tsonu’e looked at you with worried eyes, clearly unsure about where this attitude was coming from, but she didn’t call you on it.
By the time you went to bed—in your human body—you’d also managed to piss off Felix, and Claire too. Your interactions with Ronal played on a loop in your head, and you woke up in a bad mood too.
“Okay,” said Felix. “What crawled up your ass?”
“Ronal invited me to go diving,” you said sulkily. “Ìewii was going too.”
Felix had the gall to laugh. “That’s it? I thought someone died with your crappy attitude.”
That sobered you up pretty quickly. “I’m sorry.”
He waved you off.
You sighed. “I should apologize to Ronal too. I kind of ditched her once I found out Ìewii was going.”
“Who’s that anyway?” he asked. “You’ve never mentioned her before.”
“Not much to mention,” you grumbled. “I’ve only met her twice. First time was just insults about me as an individual. The second time she mentioned Ame.”
Felix hummed thoughtfully. You frowned. “Don’t do that.”
“Do what?”
“Hum like you know something I don’t,” you said.
“I do know something you don’t,” he said cryptically. “Whenever Ame get mentioned, you get defensive.”
“Well, yeah,” you said. “Of course I do. I know everything about Ame, and she knows everything about me—and she still loves me. Imagine knowing someone’s most intimate thoughts and feelings, and them knowing yours. Things you’ve never said, things you haven’t even realized yourself yet. I’d defend Ame with my life, and I know she’d do the same.”
“I get it,” he said, but honestly, you didn’t think he did. You didn’t think anyone did. Ame was a part of you, an extension of yourself. The bond you’d created with her was one for life, one that tied you intrinsically to her beyond any friendship you’d ever had.
Ame was the reason the Metkayina had accepted you so easily. You felt like in some ways, Felix ignored that part.
You let the subject drop. “I need to find Ronal and apologize, don’t I?”
“Probably,” agreed Felix.
“Sorry for being an ass,” you said. “I shouldn’t let one person bother me so much.”
“It’s easier said then done,” said Felix.
He was right, it was. Didn’t mean you had to like it though.