Chapter Text
“I see you.” Tsireya speaks, voice wavering. She had been torn between sides, her family and clan, or an outcast. Words cannot describe how thankful Lo’ak is that she chose the outcast. That she chose him.
He doesn’t say anything. He can’t. He doesn’t have the words. He wants to thank her, tell her that he sees her too, but he can’t. Not when his father, his dad, had chosen reputation over his own son. It hurts too much.
”I appreciate that, I really do,” He settles on. He sees a look of hurt flash through Tsireya’s face and continues, “But my father, your father, and the rest of your clan, do not. Payakan is my brother. My father would never understand.”
”Maybe if you tried talking to him,” Tsireya urges, but Lo’ak knows that will never work.
”My father will not listen. He never has, and never will. It is hopeless. He does not understand.”
Maybe, he would’ve gotten his point through to Tsireya if he had continued, but after he had finished his sentence, he’d been hit with an intense headache, vision going blurry. From the looks of it, Tsireya had too.
Before he knows it, Tsireya is falling to the ground, and he follows shortly after.
When he awoke, Lo’ak was expecting a grimy basement, with blood splattered across the floor. He was not, however, expecting to see comfortable looking seats, facing a massive black box. What kind of a torture room is this?
”Lo’ak!” He hears a voice, Neteyam, shout. He looks over to his right, only to see his family staring back at him, concern tight in their faces.
”Wha-?” He slurs, confused. He has a sore head, but he doesn’t hurt anywhere else. It’s only then he realises that he’s sat on a comfy chair. Huh.
”Are you okay, brother?” Neteyam asks, tilting his head.
”Yeah,” He starts, “I’m just confused. Where are we?”
”Yes, where are we, Jake Sully?” Another voice asks, from behind him. Ronal.
He turns around, meeting eyes with Tonowari’s family, plus Roxto. Looks like they are in this together then. At least he knows that Tsireya is safe.
”How the hell am I supposed to know?” His father responds, frowning. “Well, I’ll be damned. The room we are in looks like a cinema from the 20th century back with the Sky People.”
”Cinema?” Neytiri questions.
”It’s like, a big room designed to watch moving pictures. It was popular back on Earth.”
Neytiri nods, accepting the answer.
”What are we doing at a ‘cinema’ then?” Ao’nung asks.
“Maybe this note could tell us?” Lo’ak voices, holding a piece of paper in his hands.
”How did you get that?” Neteyam asks.
”It was on the floor.” Lo’ak shrugs. “It says: ‘Do not fear. You have been summoned here to watch the past. You will learn truths that wish not to be shared, but all will end well. I have been given consent from Eywa for this, please, react responsibly.’.”
”Our Great Mother has given permission?” Tsireya repeats, dumbfounded.
”Then we have no choice.” Kiri announces. “Eywa wants us to see this, so we must trust Her judgement.”
”I agree.” Ronal accepts, earning herself a few suprised faces. “If Eywa’s permission has been granted, then it is a necessity. Whatever is to be shown, must be shown.”
”Okay, the letter says to just speak up when we are ready.” Lo’ak mentions. “So should we?”
”Okay, uhm,” Jake speaks, looking awkwardly at the black box, “we are ready.”
The box flares to life.
THE SOUND OF DRUMS, from a great distance, growing louder.
WE ARE FLYING through mist, a dimly glimpsed forest below.
“Look, it’s the Forest!” Tuktirey shouts, happily. She misses her home, and although the place they live in now is amazing, it will never be the same as the Forest.
”Your Forest is very pretty.” Tsireya compliments, truthfully.
”Thank you. We take great pride in it.” Neytiri responds.
VOICE (V.O.) When I was lying there in the VA hospital, with a big hole blown through the middle of my life, I started having these dreams of flying.
Many people startle at hearing Jakes voice, including himself.
”Dad?” Neteyam questions.
”Oh no…” Jake groans as he realises exactly what they are about to see. He doesn’t want his family to see his past, it’s humiliating and they’ll surely think of him as weak or unworthy.
Neytiri places a hand on his knee from beside him, squeezing slightly. It’s almost as if she can sense his degrading thoughts. She looks at him and smiles. Jake knows that, that smile says ‘no matter what, she will always be with him’. For that, he’s thankful.
“Why is Dad on the box?” Kiri asks.
”I think we will be reviewing the past, Kiri.” Jake sighs.
”So we get to see you as a Sky Person?” Neteyam asks.
Jake stiffens, but nods, “Yes, but just a heads up, it wasn’t the best time in my life.”
”So, we sha’ll see what his true intentions are.” Ronal comments, Tonowari nodding along. Never hurts to be cautious.
We are very low over the forest now, gliding fast, the drums BUILDING to a PEAK --
VOICE (V.O.) Sooner or later though, you always have to wake up...