chapter thirty
Chapter Thirty
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Ìweii sat in front of you, her shoulders tensed. Beside you, Yitì had his eyes trained ahead, his ears twitching. Wayì was on the other side, looking a little jittery. It was an odd group—but one that made sense to everyone who heard it, especially when taking into account the main goal of infiltration.
A weaver, and three warriors sit in enemy waters—it sounded like the start of a bad joke. You swallowed, brining a hand up to your neck.
“Brainiac, Blondie,” you said. “This is Smurfette, we are in position, do you copy?”
“Copy,” replied Felix.
You’d tried to explain the joke to Tonowari and Ronal but it had fallen flat. Jake had wheezed when you gave yourself the code name. Felix had a laugh in his voice when he first heard it.
Claire’s voice came through a minute later, “This is Blondie, I copy you.”
You sighed in relief. “Snoopy and Grumble are headed to the east gate.” You waved your hand a little, and with a parting look, Yitì and Wayì sunk into the water toward their goal.
“East gate is clear,” confirmed Claire. You and Ìweii sighed with relief. Claire would be able to take Yitì and Wayì wherever they needed to be.
“Smurfette, proceed to the south gate, I can let you in,” said Felix. Ìweii urged her tsurak forward, her face grim as the entrance approached quickly. Felix was there, looking around nervously over his shoulder. He held out a hand, helping you up first, and then Ìweii. You leaned against the walls peering around the corner.
“It’s clear,” you said quietly. “Quickly.”
Ìweii’s steps were silent, and she remained close to you, her hands ghosting along the wall, hovering over your arm. Felix led the way, his steps quick and light.
“Here,” he said, opening a door. Your eyes widened at the sight, a bright grin crossing your face.
“Ava,” you said, exhilarated at seeing your friend despite the situation.
“Hey,” she greeted, looking a little nervously at Ìweii.
“Ìweii,” you said. “This is Ava. She is a dear friend.”
Ìweii relaxed slightly, looking between you and Ava. It took a few moments before you realized the issue. Ava did not speak Na’vi, and Ìweii did not speak English. You smacked your forehead.
“Okay,” you decided, deciding to speak in Na’vi for the moment. “Ìweii, go with Felix. Ava and I will circle around to the labs. Once you plant the device, let everyone know and get out of here and to the rendezvous point.”
Ìweii bobbed her head, glancing over at Felix a little nervously. You pulled her into a hug, and whispered to her, “Be safe.”
She hugged you back, tapping her nose as she pulled back, wide grin on her face. “Always am.”
They stepped away, and you turned to Ava. “You are with me,” you said.
Ava nodded, following you. “Yates is here too,” said Ava quietly.
“Yates?” you repeated, a little bemused. You’d expected one of the other Avatar drivers, especially when Felix had said he was trying to recruit people. Yates felt… random.
“She wanted to help,” said Ava. “Whatever that means.”
“I guess,” you moved through the halls quickly, silently. Nobody had tripped up any alarms yet, but that didn’t mean much. Majority of the crew was on ships, or bracing themselves for the impact. War loomed, and everyone felt it.
You made it to the control station, eyes wide as Ava swooped in the room, knocking out the only occupant. You didn’t know his name, or even recognize him. You swallowed, turning your attention to the computers, you sat on the small chair, feeling oversized and clunky. The keyboard felt tiny, the mouse microscopic in your hand.
This was a simple, if slightly redundant step—but one you hoped would pay off in the long run.
It was startling, seeing your face on camera, reflected back at you. Your eyes were large, blue, almost the same hue as your skin. The earrings Ronal gifted you jiggled when you moved your head, your braids tight and carefully keeping the curls from your eyes. Your chin tattoo was dark, and actually seeing it like this, in a picture and not in the reflection of water was jarring—the symbol of your status among the people, of your marriage glaring back at you. You didn’t look like an Avatar. You looked like one of the People.
You glanced at Ava. She nodded encouragingly. You took a deep breath, and hit record.
“My name is Hana te Ue Tsonu’e’ite,” you said, forcing your voice to be steady. “I don’t have long, so I’ll speak quickly. The RDA has declared war on the Na’vi. They have destroyed the home and killed thousands of Omaticaya. The clans are unified against a greater cause now, and when we remove the invaders from this world, you will not be welcome back. Do not come here.”
You pressed send. It would take a little to reach it’s destination, but once it was out there—even if only a few people saw it, a few humans—you hoped it would be enough.
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Ìweii’s face is pressed up against the glass, her eyes darting past you as she leaned in closer, trying to see better. She was just outside the Avatar Barracks, only a window separating you from her and Felix. Ava had slipped on her mask already, preparing to go outside with you. You stopped her at the door.
“You know the plan?” you asked, mostly to reassure yourself. Ava have you a smirk, her lips twitchy.
“Sure do, Smurfette.” she teased.
“I set myself up for that,” you admitted. “But seriously, once we meet at the rendezvous point, I’m going to detonate. You and Felix need to be long gone.”
She nodded. “Yates is the only wild card. She’s supposed to meet with us at the North Gate, she’s dropping her avatar off somewhere safe.”
Privately, you didn’t think anywhere was safe right now—you did not voice this opinion.
“Good,” you said. “We’ve got our comms, channel 89.”
Ava bobbed her head, tapping her own comm at her throat. You knelt down, hugging her.
She was so tiny, you felt scared for her. You had this image of Ava in your mind, someone larger then life—brave and bold. It was weird to have it crash down around you so easily, to realize she was small, the size of a child.
“Stay safe,” you told her. Begged.
“As long as you do too,” said Ava seriously. “You gotta stay alive for that little girl.”
As much as you wanted to stay with her, to laugh with her a little longer—Ìweii’s fidgeting was making you nervous, and you could not stay.
“I’ll see you,” you told her, promised her.