#ANMAF

[xenomorphee3]

✨Beautiful✨ art of my Longfic's OC, Zukriyä, by @kings-evil

I was going to wait to share this when my story fully wrapped up, but I'm so sad from Avatar 3 getting delayed, I decided what the heck!

I commissioned this beautiful bust of my Ash Na'vi character, Zukriyä, aka, Zu to those reading A New Mission: Ash to Fire from the ever talented @kings-evil

Zu is a wonderful character that my readers really enjoy and I love seeing her brought to life in this absolutely phenomenal way.

My story will, Eywa-willing, be marked complete by the end of this weekend at around 394,000 words. And hey, with the announcement of Avatar 3's delay, if you like Quaritch and the recoms boy do I have an "Avatar 3" story for you (check out my pinned post for more info! ^_^)

[xenomorphee3]

Prompt: Firsts! For @recom-week

The recoms, reluctantly, have their first taste of foraged Pandoran food with Spider's help. One of the many flashbacks of the time 1st Recom and Spider spent together from my longfic (info below :).

[Flashback to the recoms and Spider sometime after the Kestrel dropped them off in the forest]

Eat Na’vi. Ride Na’vi. Think Na’vi. These were the guiding rules by which the recoms would live until they found Jake Sully. Get into the minds of their enemies until they learn where he escaped to, and then use their new skills to complete their mission—hunting him down and killing him.

Jake Sully and his family had gone to ground and they had no inkling of where he could be. But with enough time and patience, they were confident they would find him. That he would slip up and reveal himself. It was smart to deduce that he wouldn’t have gone entirely AWOL and leave all of his existing connections behind. He had traitor science puke friends from Hell's Gate and family within the Omaticaya people. Wherever he was they would find him and be more prepared than ever to end him.

Eat Na’vi was the first important thing they needed to learn while doing reconnaissance. The Marines didn’t bring any major supplies aside from weapons, ammo, the clothes on their back, and some sleeping gear. They would have to live off the land. Knowing that obtaining banshee mounts was the next major thing to do after getting accustomed to being Na'vi for a few days, the Marines and Spider set out in the direction of the Hallelujah Mountains through the forest. They assumed they would be able to find food along the way.

Spider was quiet, angry. His “ride along” agreement was the lesser of two evils, but he was not happy to be here with the people who held his friends hostage and who were trying to kill the closest thing he had to a family. These violent, murderous skxawngs barely even knew how to speak Na’vi and made him, a sixteen-year-old, their interpreter. Spider was walking in the middle of the seven surviving recoms, Miles leading the troop, Wainfleet, Z-Dog, and Mansk ahead of Spider, Prager, Lopez, and Ja at the back.

Spider was mostly looking down, despondent at his situation, but occasionally glanced upward to look at this bizarre "father" adjacent figure that had suddenly, abruptly entered into his life. Spider grew up hearing stories of the monster that was Colonel Miles Quaritch, the man responsible for the destruction of the Omaticaya’s Hometree and a great battle in the Hallelujah Mountains that resulted in the loss of many Na’vi and human lives, Spider’s mother included.

He deeply resented him for that. Quaritch making such an arrogant decision that cost the life of the mother of his child and left Spider an orphan on an alien world. And that’s the thing, wasn’t it? Quaritch was arrogant. So arrogant that he had zero thought in his mind that he would lose that battle. And all of this is of course why no one wanted to call Spider, 'Miles.' 

Regardless, Spider knew that this recombinant version of Miles Quaritch didn’t remember how the loss occurred. Miles explained to him on their Kestrel ride out to their drop zone exactly where his memories stopped. Spider just looked at the back of this man, his “father” with a scowl. As he walked, Miles could feel the daggered eyes of his past life’s son behind his back. He paid it no mind. He knew what it was like to be hated, and he knew that Spider had no reason to have any affinity for him. And for Miles, this kid was mostly going to be a tool, an asset by which they could more successfully carry out their mission to find Sully. He and Spider were nothing to each other after all.

Miles was relaxingly taking in the forest, his rifle held low, his new form eliciting significantly less fear in this jungle than in his past life. His past life who got mauled by a juvenile thanator his first day on Pandora while he was getting a field tour of the Hell's Gate mining quarry—the source of his past life’s three scars. Now, Pandoran predators like viperwolves, even in a small pack were non-bothersome to him and his recoms. He walked in the forest renewed, able to take in its harsh beauty rather than its extreme danger. Miles was, for lack of a better term, allowing himself to be moderately enchanted with the forest of Pandora. He was even mildly excited at the prospect of flying on a banshee.

Ja and Prager were pulling up the rear of the crew. Ja said to Prager, “Man, I’m kinda hungry. I wonder what we’re gonna eat.”

Prager replied, “Yeah are we gonna have to hunt something?”

Lopez chimed in with, “I wonder what those little deer things taste like?”

“Yerik,” Spider butted in. The first thing he’d spoken in a while.

The Marines slowed their walking and Lopez asked, “What you say, kid?”

Spider looked around at the recoms in front and behind him with exasperation, including Miles, who was looking back at him with his head turned over his shoulder, half paying attention to the path in front of him.

“It’s called a yerik, guys. It’s not a hard word. Much easier than freaking ‘hexapede’ which is apparently what you guys would call them,” Spider said in a condescending tone.

The recoms lightly scoffed at this bratty kid patronizing them.

Lopez then snarkily replied, “Well then, I wonder what 'yerik' tastes like.”

Fully detecting, but unbothered by the recom’s attitude, Spider casually replied, “It’s pretty good. A little gamey though.”

Lopez gave him a glare, Prager stuck his tongue in his cheek and raised his eyebrows, and Ja looked indifferent. Miles was looking ahead, continuing to lead the Marines, but he was smirking slightly from the interaction behind him, though no one could see his face since he was in the front.

After walking for a bit more, Spider said, “Hey, you guys are hungry?” and he suddenly ran ahead of the troop past Miles which made Miles lurch forward to grab him.

Miles caught him by his arm. “Whoa whoa, where do you think you’re going?”

Spider yanked his arm away from a perturbed Miles and said, “I’m showing you how to ‘eat Na’vi',” in a voice mocking Miles'.

Miles clenched his teeth and pulled his lips back in a smirk. This little shit. The Marines stopped and gathered to watch Spider approach a bizarre-looking plant with structures like suspended gourds hanging from it. Spider grabbed one of them and approached the recoms. He then smashed it on a tree. All recoms' ears were completely fixed on Spider, their tails flicking with a lightness from their curiosity. Inside the smashed gourd was a stringy, white, fibrous-looking structure, like spiderwebs meet spaghetti. It did not look appetizing. Spider then held his breath to remove his mask to scoop some of this… fruit? into his mouth.

Spider looked at the Marines who were looking at him with mild disgust and said, “It’s edible and it’s got a lot of protein. It’s bitter, but—” He tossed the weird-looking fruit to Miles without warning, his reflexes catching it with no problem. "—you get used to it," Spider finished.

The Marines looked at the weird fruit in the hands of their commanding officer.

Lopez said, “I ain’t eating that,” and the Marines chuckled.

Miles looked at it for a solid moment, then grabbed some with his fingers and noted the texture was not as dry as it looked. He scooped some into his mouth.

Wainfleet looked at him and asked, “Boss?” curious about what he thought of it.

Miles smacked his lips and said, “You know, it... kind of tastes like coffee.”

The recoms gave expressions that indicated they were mildly impressed, but also, whatever, eating gross-looking plants was their life now, and each went to go grab a fruit off the plant. A small snack that would tide them over until they found a 'yerik' or something to kill. Miles looked at Spider and winked at him, smiling slightly.

Spider looked down and away and grinned softly in a way that Miles couldn’t see.

Read more on Ao3! (link here) Incredible OC art by quaritchsgirl/bluekernal

[xenomorphee3]

Hey there all you amazing A New Mission readers! I am pleased to officially announce Ash to Fire's in progress sequel! (Info on the first story here in my pinned post).

Titled: A New Mission: Happiness is Simple

Story Summary:

Many years after peace has been reached on Pandora, former RDA recombinants Miles Quaritch, Lyle Wainfleet, and Devin Mansk have created fulfilling lives for themselves among the Ash Na’vi. Miles leads the people as Olo'eyktan with the love and support of his fierce Ash Na'vi mate, Zukriyä. On their paradise volcanic archipelago, the three recoms contend with a great new mission—raising their families. However, such may prove to be the most difficult mission they’ve ever had, as the actions and decisions of their adolescent children will force their parents to contend with the dangers of Pandora, their relationships with their kids, and rivalries thought to be buried long ago.

AO3 Link

Wattpad Link

If the first story was Avatar 3 if it was Avatar 1 but for Quaritch, this sequel will be much more like his Way of Water where he deals with family and conflict that arises from having such.

I have a full outline and will be consistently dropping chapters. I may slow a bit here and there as I work to finish a big personal academic achievement, but I'll be doing my best to plow on through!

And shout out to my friend JoeOwlArt on Twitter for his amazing artwork featured on the story cover 💙

[xenomorphee3]

First two ANMAF sequel chapters are going up this weekend!

Sorry I've been a little behind all. I just want to start it off the best I can!

Ideally I'll be posting them on Saturday evening Pacific time.

[xenomorphee3]

Working on my sequel!

Hey everyone, been a while! I've just been taking a nice little breather after finishing and editing my huge story. For those still invested, you'll be pleased to know that I have been steadily working on the sequel :)

I had originally alluded to a mid-August drop for the first chapter, but it'll probably be late August, maybe creeping into earliest September.

Sorry! I just learned a lot in writing the first story and wanted to improve on some things in my mental health for how I write for this one. The main thing is having a bunch of chapters done ahead of time, but dropping two a week, so that I can write with less (self-inflicted) pressure.

I'll post a preview of the story's summary soon-ish ^_^ But a spoiler is that if you look at ANMAF as Avatar but for Quaritch, the way the movie was for Jake, this sequel will be a sort of smaller scale Way of Water for Quaritch (Family <3).

In the meantime, if you are interested in a huge post-Way of Water Quaritch-focused fanfiction with Wainfleet and Mansk heavily supporting and robust world-building, check out A New Mission: Ash to Fire on Ao3 and Wattpad. Details in my pinned post!

[xenomorphee3]

Prompt: Firsts! For @recom-week

Miles' first kiss with an Ash Na'vi girl-- from my story. She was only supposed to be his host and translator on this mission to try to ally the Ash People on behalf of Bridgehead 👀 (art of OC below)

Miles and Zu landed at the base of this narrow fissure, which was actually a tiny pit cave, barely bigger than the bottom of a well, Zu and Miles practically on top of one another. She made sure to maneuver her spear out of the way and against the cave wall to not impale Miles when he came down. The creature was desperately, frustratingly trying to stick its snout in to reach them, then tried to grab them with its arms and claws, but to no avail. Miles and Zu were about six feet out of its reach. Incredibly close for comfort, less than a body length, but they were out of reach. The creature put its head in the fissure one last time, roared loudly at Miles and Zu, the volume causing their ears to lean back in pain, and then it left. Off to find an easier meal. Or wait them out.

Both Zu and Miles were on their backs and Zu was leaning against Miles’ left side on top of his huge left arm in the tight space, their legs unable to stretch out fully. They were breathing rapidly and heavily, adrenaline coursing through their bodies, and their tails were quickly thrashing around with exhilaration and also elation. After a few moments of silence, letting the shock and relief of having survived set in, and after their breathing started to slow, Zu started to laugh. Miles couldn’t believe it. They almost died to some giant toothy monster and this crazy Ash Na'vi girl was laughing.

“Oh you think that was funny, huh?” Miles said playfully and he began to chuckle as well, the two laughing together in the small pit. She and Miles then both tried to get up at the same time, but the tight, rocky, dirt-lined space didn’t make this easy. Miles slid back down onto his back and she fell closer into his body, his huge arms catching her. Their mutual giggling stopped.

Zu lowered her ears and looked deep into Miles' eyes—her fiery stare locked with his golden gaze. Miles’ ears leaned back, his jaw clenched, then he swallowed, and his jaw went slack. Zu’s lips parted, her large canine teeth revealed. She unlocked her eyes from his and looked at his giant biceps, and lightly touched his exposed chest above his tactical vest. She looked into his eyes again.

Like a reflex he couldn't control, Miles took his right hand and slowly, gently reached for her face with his huge fingers, moving some of her dark, wavy-curly hair from her forehead and softly stroked her gray-blue cheek. He glanced at her full lips, Zu glanced at his, then she quickly moved her body forward to kiss him. Miles didn't hesitate to kiss her back, lightly holding her pretty face with his huge hand. The two held this kiss for a non-insignificant moment and after letting go they both looked at each other with wide eyes, and neutral faces, their emotions swirling. Zu then leaned up over him and began making her way up to climb out of the pit to see if the coast was clear.

Miles laid back in the dirt for a moment longer.

What the hell are you doing, Miles??

Read more on Ao3! (link below) Incredible OC art by quaritchsgirl/bluekernal

[xenomorphee3]

Do you have favorite quotes and moments from A New Mission: Ash to Fire?

Hi all! I have been ✨tasked✨with determining my favorite/good quotes from my story.

The problem. For some reason this is hard for me to do lol even though I know my story in and out haha. So I will ask yooouuu the readers for anything that stood out to you or made you smile : )

Want to start reading? Start here! (AO3 link)

Or here (Wattpad link)

[xenomorphee3]

about your fic i just wanted to say that i have been reading since chapter 10 and i get excited every time you upload.. my mind can’t comprehend the fact that it’s about to end omg 😅

i have read so many quaritch fics but i can fully say that my all time favorite is yours. the description is so good that i truly don’t have words to describe how amazing it is and i can also say that it’s my favorite fic that i have EVER read. mind you, i started reading fics way back in middle school - from wattpad to ao3 and i’ve gone through so many fics but nothing can top yours. and i mean this truly. i fell in love with the ash navi clans, zu, and spider in particular and i LOVED the battle/war chapters especially when it was between neytiri and zu because writing fights must be so difficult yet you did it so effortlessly and reading it felt as though i was witnessing it in real time. and most of all, our man miles in this fic is just so well written… i’m speechless.

i also got to improve my english reading skills through this fic (english isn’t my first language)

however, now that its coming to an end i just wanted to say thanks for writing such an amazing fic. your fic deserves so much more recognition bc of how well it is written.

all the best and i hope you continue writing. this is quite long but i think writers like you that are so dedicated & talented need to be acknowledged & thanked more for their work ❤️

also, literally the only thing that helped me “relax” was by reading your fic during my finals AND mid term crisis 😭😭😭

**i highly recommend you add tags like “quaritch/reader” or “quaritch/original female characters” + “miles quaritch/original female characters” and other popular tags to help increase recognition bc i searched for those in the beginning !! happy to say i was here since chapter 10 🙏🏻

Wow. I need you to know that this comment is so incredibly validating and timely, truly. I don't have the words for how this has elevated me on a day that, to be honest, I really needed it. I have to say that my emotions have been wild as this story comes to its close. Swirling thoughts of "Oh my gosh why did I do this?" "Is it even good?" "Was writing this a good use of my time/worth it?"

But then I realize that comments like yours, and the fact that I was always joyed *while* I was actually doing the writing-- is the reason why I have continued. And that, yes, this has been worth it! And I am also sad and can't believe that it's coming to a close.

I am so exulted that you have enjoyed my story. And wow, since Chapter 10? That's early February! You're awesome ^_^ And hey, I may keep writing! Expect some details of what that might entail in the last chapter's story notes when it goes up.

But seriously. Thank you so, so, so much 💙 and I am also so happy my story has helped you with your English reading skills and got you through exams! I remember those days all too well, believe me haha

Also, I re-added those tags! (let me know if they're the correct ones). Thanks so much for looking out. I definitely had them in the beginning, I am not sure why I removed them lol

[xenomorphee3]

Here's Chapter 2 of A New Mission: Ash to Fire

(Na'vi OC art by the talented @quaritchsgirl / @bluekernal 💙)

Link to Tumblr Post of Chapter 1 (story is on AO3 and Wattpad <-click for links. I'm just sharing the smaller, earlier chapters on Tumblr as teasers :)

Chapter 2- Punishment

The three banshees, their injured surviving recombinant riders, and the caravan of lifeboats cruised along for a few more hours before finally setting their sights on the glinting of Bridgehead City's metal buildings and the rocky breakwaters of the Bridgehead City harbor and marina. The boats entered the open sea gate and the three banshees and their riders circled above the water ensuring that the human crew made it to safety. Miles had figured that the boats must have sent in their own communications that they were coming in as large emergency and medical teams were waiting on the metal docks of the marina, ready to service the injured, surviving Sea Dragon crew members.

Miles, though shamed for his mission failure, was a disciplined military man and knew that the appropriate thing to do now was also to call in his arrival to General Ardmore which he could now that he was in communication range. He worried though, given how the mission went. With an almost child-like fear of being scolded by a parent after breaking an object, the Colonel radioed into Bridgehead’s main Operations center while gliding slowly above the harbor, Wainfleet and Mansk flying in circles above him.

Miles placed his fingers to the comms piece on his neck and exhaled through his nose. “Bridgehead Command, Blue one, on arrival. We have suffered heavy casualties and are in need of medical assistance, over.” He got nothing. He paused and radioed again, “Bridgehead Command, Blue One, on arrival. We have—”

“Copy that, Colonel.” the General’s voice said over the radio, monotone. “Medical assistance will be awaiting you at the airfield’s east hangar entrance.” the General followed up.

The East Hangar was where the recom team had secured their banshees for the times that they briefly convened in Bridgehead City with their mounts. First to get special tactical saddles made for them, and also when Miles sought out a ship and aircraft to hunt down Jake amongst the ocean Na'vi clans. At the time, all of the 1st Recom Unit's banshees actually fit and behaved quite contently in the large gunship and aircraft hangar, lofting in the exposed metal structures and rafters of the ceiling. They had to secure them in there as they couldn’t have unsupervised banshees flying over an under-construction human city. At least now there were only going to be three banshees for however long they were there. They didn’t know it yet, but the hangar’s pilots and staff were going to be much happier with three banshees to be aware of and clean up after, instead of seven.

The three defeated and injured recoms landed their banshees inside the hangar, medical staff waiting for them and even had three Na’vi-sized stretchers ready to be moved by SEC-OPS staff on Skel-suits. Miles saw the stretchers and scoffed, but as soon as he tried to get off Cupcake he collapsed momentarily onto one knee. Overwhelmed by the pain and strength it took to try to stand. Mansk, the least injured of the three recoms, who was only briefly knocked out when Jake hurled a guard at him, knocking him back and making him slam his head on a pipe, ran up to assist his Colonel. He grabbed Miles by the upper arm and his back, helping his commanding officer until he was able to stand on his own.

“Thank you, Marine.” Miles said sincerely. Mansk returned a kind nod.

Wainfleet weakly got off of his banshee last, rubbing his head and right shoulder with his left arm, and wincing. After getting beat up by Sully’s woman with her bow, Lyle confronted Jake, and even disarmed him, but was bested and hurled into the water over a railing, but not before slamming into the hull of the ship. Lyle came to when the ship was gone from the surface. He swam to some rocks and his banshee found him in the remaining darkness of eclipse where he then flew off to escort the boats and rafts of survivors.

Mansk, after waking up from being knocked out, found himself floating in the water by some miracle, clear of the fuel fire and the sinking and suction of the ship. Through the cover of fire, he swam for the destroyed remains of a picador boat and whistled for his banshee to get him from the wreck where he would then find Lyle flying with the survivors.

Neither Miles, Mansk, nor Wainfleet truly needed the three provided stretchers, though Miles certainly didn’t feel the need to scoff at them being brought out anymore. The hangar’s giant main doors closed slightly, enough to allow in light and Pandoran air, but would encourage the three banshees to stay inside. Their mounts flew up to loft in the ceiling, slightly startled by the large mechanical movements and noise of the doors. The three recombinant Marines figured they would be fine, and the RDA workers would be alright so long as they made no sudden or offending movements. The base caught plenty of fish from the harbor to feed the Bridgehead population and scientifically exploit the Pandoran wildlife in numerous other RDA ways, so he figured filling the bellies of three banshees would be easy work. He wasn’t sure whose responsibility that was though… he didn’t care, not his primary thought at the moment.

The three recoms were led across the airfield by medical and security personnel to the Operations Center where the Medical Bay was located, a non-insignificant distance from the hangar. He understood the reason for the stretcher now. Eventually, they made it inside the OpsCenter and the three Marines were given breathers as they entered by the medical staff. Once inside, they felt like they still had too long of a distance to travel to find relief.

Miles was limping, wincing and baring his teeth, ears pointed back every time he took a step and had to duck under human-sized doors. Jake had done a number on him, as did practically drowning. Few areas of his body were lacking in pain. Even his lungs and diaphragm hurt with every breath, thanks to the water and spasming for air while he was drowning. Still, he realized his human body could have never taken a beating like that, and that his recom form was strong, and was slowly healing and recovering in real time.

Wainfleet and Mansk walked behind their Colonel and the medical personnel, quiet, sunglasses atop their heads, capturing and holding onto the defeated mood of their leader, taking long breaths from their breathers behind him. Finally, the three made it to the Medical Bay, this clean-looking, sterile, high-tech space and each sat on a white bed for assessment. They weren’t Na’vi-sized, but anything would do right now. Wainfleet and Mansk were each immediately tended to by doctors. Miles, however, was directed to a private room down the hall by a lead medical doctor. He winced in getting up off the bed, the sweet relief and comfort he felt for a moment in sinking into the bed frustratingly vanishing. The next one, he thought. Just another moment.

In the private room he would get no relief, however, at least not full relief. General Ardmore was in there waiting for him, as was her young, assistive lieutenant, Lieutenant Korman, and two corporate RDA administrative goons in their stupid ties. Who wears ties on an alien planet? Miles thought to himself. As soon as Miles made eye contact with the General, though he tried to hide his fear of reprimand, his ears bent back about as far as they could go, and his tail went completely down to its lowest possible position which would have given his fear away to anyone with an acute eye for basic animal behavior. He tried to distract from his fear by breathing from his mask.

“Colonel. Take a seat.” remarked the General, sternly.

“Yes, General.” said Miles. Finally, at least getting that soft seat that his injured body had been longing for since being saved by Spider was something he could take away from this bound to be awful moment. Flying on a banshee for a day while injured ain’t exactly luxury.

General Ardmore carried a neutral face about her. The suits looked disappointed and angry. Lieutenant Korman was looking at his holo-tablet.

“You failed your mission Colonel. You didn’t get Jake Sully, and a whole lot of people died. You also lost young mister Socorro, who was a valuable asset in his knowledge of Na’vi affairs.” said the General, an air of disappointment in her voice.

“Not to mention RDA losses in the billions,” remarked one of the corporate suits in the white shirt and tie.

Miles remembered this man as Charles Stringer, the top-ranking administrator of Bridgehead whom he had briefest correspondence with in the Ops Center command floor the first day he and all of his recoms arrived at Bridgehead from the Venture Star, and then once more when they were interrogating Spider. But he didn't care who he was at this moment. The callous, uncaring remark made Miles want to snarl. His Marines were dead. He didn't care how much they 'cost.' But Miles held in his anger and just remained silent, his golden eyes fixed passed the General, sitting up, stoic and imposing despite being in extreme pain and despite the fact that he hadn’t been received an ounce of medical attention yet.

Through the pain in his chest, he strung together, “I’m sorry, General. I take full responsibility for how the events unfolded. And for my failure to apprehend Sully,” the memory of Jake’s woman holding Spider at knife point flashing across his frontal lobe. Such a foolish weakness that he should have never allowed himself to have. He was so close to getting Jake. He had one cuff on already, the threat upon his eldest daughter working. Yet, Miles had true terror when he saw Spider under Sully's woman's knife, the recollection of the memory causing his heartrate to tick up. And of course, after that he remembers the rage, chaos, water, and the darkness that followed.

General Ardmore paused, pursed her lips slightly and said, “Colonel, upon interviewing some of the surviving crew on their approach, including Captain Scoresby and Dr. Garvin—”

Miles' ears perked up. He was surprised to hear that they survived. The last thing he remembered was the both of them going out to kill the Tulkun before all hell broke loose. He wasn’t very fond of Scoresby, but the Dr. seemed like a fine enough guy. For a science puke. Both Miles and Garvin were equally fed up with Scoresby’s antics, Garvin even moreso of course considering Garvin worked with him permanently.

“It seems that there were many circumstances outside of your control.” said the General.

Miles’ eyes looked down at her and he squinted slightly, his head tilted a bit, confused in a more or less unnoticeable fashion.

She continued, “I was led to believe that the ‘tull-kuhn’ were virtually harmless, yet apparently one breached onto the Sea Dragon, incapacitating and distracting your SEC-OPS forces enough for Jake Sully and some of his new friends to mount an attack. Can you confirm, Colonel?”

Miles, in disbelief that somehow this was not all falling on him nodded and said, “Yes General, and...”

General Ardmore interjected, “You asked me for a ship. I gave you a ship. In the end that was my call, my mistake, Colonel. That’s a resource fulfilling a specific task that I should have never allowed you.”

Miles glanced forward. This lack of a full reprimand didn’t make him feel any better. It was rather backhanded, as if he were a child allowed to play with things he technically shouldn’t have been allowed to play with.

The General continued, "However, we also learned that Mr. Socorro attacked the ship's helmsman and caused the Sea Dragon to become disabled."

This one shocked and stung Miles, his eyes widened, ears retracted and tail flickered on the bed. He had no idea that this is what caused the ship to crash. He was highly engaged with Sully in the air as this happened, and barely had a chance to register the catastrophe, let alone whatever the hell caused it. He felt great guilt at that moment, feeling as though he bore responsibility for the event, given the lack of supervision and the fact that he brought Spider along. Miles was also further saddened at his own son working to undermine his task in such an extreme way, especially after all they'd been through together. He knew that this also made Spider a great enemy to the RDA now and didn't want to ponder what that could mean for Spider if he ever got captured again. His turbulent thoughts of his son were interrupted by the General.

“That said, Colonel, you and your recoms have inadvertently been successful. In a sense.” General Ardmore continued, observant of Miles' guilty, pensive eyes.

Miles took a breath from his mask and his eyes moved curiously to all four personnel in the room.

“Jake Sully has been driven from his main base of operations and has not mounted an attack, with the exception of this Sea Dragon incident, in four months now. Four months of peace. Effectively, the Na’vi insurgency is stalled. So I do have a good bit to thank you for Colonel,” the General finished. 

Stringer and the other RDA suit standing in the room looked less than pleased by the last statement. Odd, surely they knew what she was going to say. Clearly they were more concerned by the loss of money than the loss of life and were eager to pin it on someone. Miles nodded slightly and glanced down at the floor, unsure of what to make of what was happening. He then rapidly inferred that the General likely had a great deal of respect for the Colonel, all things considered. He, or rather his past life after all was the RDA’s Head of Security for fifteen years. It was an illustrious, almost famous position. She likely progressed through her own military career on Earth hearing and reading about the hardened Marine Colonel who fought jungle aliens on a distant moon. He knew that’s how people saw him, but in the moment that’s not what he felt like. Those memories still growing in conflict with his new self. Present, familiar, but foreign. Again, he suppressed his feelings, pushing them deep down.

“So Colonel, we have a new mission for you and your recoms.” the General said. Miles' ears perked up towards her, as high as they’ve been in this conversation, and even his tail ticked upward a bit while seated on the soft, white bed.

“General?” he asked, his eyes narrowed with curiosity.

She continued, “These last few months, we have been in contact with a tribe of Na’vi called the Ash People. It’s what they call themselves after translation. Unlike other Na’vi, they seem more… intrigued by our operations. They are not openly hostile to us. They inhabit an active volcanic island chain 1400 klicks to the southeast of here. We have had a few interactions with them, very positive. Even trading simple tech.”

Miles tried to picture this and wound up confused at the idea of any Na’vi on Pandora not being openly hostile to humans. Additionally, Na’vi using human tech was certainly a confounding thought.

“Your new mission is to go learn these people and see if we can make them our allies.” said the General.

And there it was. There was the punishment. Exile, but not exile. The exact same type of shit assignments that Marines back on Earth would get when they messed up. Some faraway likely futile mission in some shithole. In this case, sending the failure Colonel recom off to go exist with who he skeptically assumed would be likely enemy strangers. Lieutenant Korman pulled up the location on his holo-tablet and showed it to Miles.

Miles, not entirely hiding his disappointment and borderline anger with this mission's prospects and not thinking about his pain in the moment, lightly snatched the tablet from the Lieutenant, startling him slightly—the candid strength that this deeply injured alien-human hybrid clone still had. Miles, realizing his light transgression, gave the young Lieutenant a look like sorry kid, but said nothing. Miles toggled through some photos of the Ash People’s home environment. Lush, unique jungle like most areas of Pandora, but also desert plateaus, rocky cliffs and canyons, dark volcanic soil, and some active lava flows here and there. It looked like Hell. Even more of a hell than Pandora already was.

The Colonel was tasked with going to take the initiative. He couldn’t help but chuckle in his mind through the disappointment that he was being ordered to do the same thing he asked Jake Sully to do in his past life, some fifteen years ago. His mission would be better though, Miles thought. He was more disciplined thank Jake, would have others with him, Wainfleet and Mansk, as well as full and unwavering open support from the RDA’s highest leaders. Still though, this was not at all a mission that Miles wanted. Going to live with some Na'vi?? How could he get his revenge on Sully? Get his son back? At least he knew Spider was safe wherever he was. Probably. Jake and his batshit crazy wife be damned. He then asked an interested question, to help put off that he was greatly dismayed in this assignment.

“Do they have relationships with the other Na’vi?” Miles asked.

“As far as we can tell, no. They may even be considered hostile to other clans. Clans that have been hostile to us.” replied the General.

“Outstanding.” said Miles.

“We will let you regroup here for a few days, as well as give you the full mission brief. We’ll also tell our people already in the area to notify them that you are coming." said the General.

“There are people there?” asked Miles inquisitively.

She answered, “Yes, in and out. Some miners, geologists, and geographic surveyors. That’s how we met them. They'll be back soon.”

“Alright, General.” said Miles.

“That’ll be all Colonel. Get patched up.” remarked the General in a straightforward fashion.

Miles gave the Lieutenant back his tablet, saluted the General from his seated position, and gave golden dagger-eyed looks to Stringer and the other RDA suit which they barely registered, neither of them caring enough to even look up at him in his eyes. The four of them walked out and medical staff who had clearly anxiously been waiting outside the private medical room hastily rushed in to tend to his wounds. Miles, through all his exhaustion, both physical and mental, finally laid down on the soft white, undersized bed, unfazed by his legs hanging off the edge. Not minding the poking and prodding of the doctors and the cutting away of his clothing, he placed his mask over his face, let his eyes shut, and the pain, weight, and screaming of his world pulled him to sleep. He was out.

Posting all A New Mission: Ash to Fire related things under the hashtag #ANMAF.

[xenomorphee3]

Why not, here's Chapter 1 of my longfic— A New Mission: Ash to Fire 🔥

(Na'vi OC art by the talented @quaritchsgirl / @bluekernal 💙)

Chapter 1. Survived

Miles Quaritch's Banshee, in addition to feeling his physical pain, could feel his desire and desperation to reach Bridgehead City through her tsaheylu connection with him. The physical pain in his face, limbs, body, and lungs— that she could understand. The pain was not hers, however, so she could still fly in spite of it, though uncomfortably and with great concern; as much as her banshee mind could muster for her “Na’vi” companion.

However, her companion had emotions she could not comprehend, emotions that to the beat-down, bruised, and bloodied Colonel were swirls of failure, rage, revenge, relief, and sadness.

Miles failed his mission to capture and kill Jake Sully, and he felt rage at him and his wife, whatever her name was, for killing his fellow recombinant Marines. His Marines who had all quite literally gotten a new lease on life, only for it to be cut short on this harsh alien moon. Miles was vengeful and not tempered in his ideas of killing Jake Sully and his family, such desires for vengeance were even more magnified.

Miles also had feelings of relief, however. The last thing he remembers was being caught in a sleeper hold under the wreck of the sinking Sea Dragon, Jake’s arms gripped firmly, painfully around his neck. He felt overwhelming panic and fear, and just couldn’t comprehend the nature of the quick switch around. It all happened so fast. He had him. He had Jake by the neck in the clutches of his legs, but then there was a sudden pulse of underwater pressure and confusion. Jake now had him. And then… darkness.

Miles remembers suddenly waking up at the surface of the water, a small force lurching him towards some rocks. Relief. There was sunlight, there was air, and there was the opportunity for survival. Even greater relief overcame him when he realized that it was his son, Spider, who had saved him. After all that happened, a boy saves his father.

However, Miles also felt a great sadness knowing that, despite this effort, and the months they spent together— months of Spider teaching him and the others Na’vi, and sharing in light-hearted 1st Recom Unit adventures and shenanigans, as well as sincere moments of bonding, his son spurned him in favor of his enemy. Now, Miles was beaten, saddened, and ashamed. Through his swirl of pain and emotions, his banshee knew to just keep flying straight and steady.

Miles’ Banshee continued to fly smoothly over the ocean so as not to aggravate her companion’s wounds. Bridgehead was about a day’s flight from the Sea Dragon wreck, the scene of his failure. Miles leaned in pain over her neck to grab a water canteen from her green ops pack. Miles’ Banshee was a being he had come to love, though his mind would not let him overtly admit that. He could feel that she cared about him, and he cared for her.

Miles also developed a lot of pride over having her. With her beautiful dark indigo skin and colorful patterns, he knew that she was a unique color morph given the fact that he’d never seen a banshee like her in his previous life’s memories of 15 years on Pandora. Miles had come to affectionately call his banshee Cupcake, based on a jeering joke and reminder from Z-Dog.

[Flashback to the Hallelujah Mountains after all the Recoms have claimed their banshees] The recoms were atop the floating mountain where they had just all finished claiming their banshees. The feelings of shock and sadness at the thought of their Colonel having plummeted to his death on the back of a banshee turned to a proud, celebratory environment where each Marine was excited at their achievement and the prospect of being able to fly around and travel much more easily. The first volunteer after the Colonel was Prager who claimed his banshee actually having found a way to tie its mouth shut using the unclipped sling of his rifle. After him, it was Z-Dog, Wainfleet, Ja, then Lopez, and Mansk was last. Mansk was taking time to really scope out banshees, wanting to make sure he got one which suited him—if it chose him of course. The whole thing took about two hours, the next Marine up when the other was getting in the bond sealing flight time with their new companions. Then, once all were claimed, they flew to another floating mountain, one with a grassy top, to rest and wind down. Spider rode on Miles' banshee and Miles held Spider tightly with his huge hand as they descended to their stop. Spider hated that he felt this way, but he felt... secure. And also exhilarated. He had never flown on a banshee before. He always asked Lo'ak, Neteyam, or Kiri if he could and they always said they would let him, but it never happened. Now here he was, his first banshee ride ever... with this man. This... Quaritch. His "father". And Spider was very relieved that he didn't die from his omission that he needed to tie the banshee's mouth shut. He was reliving the relief, impressed thoughts, and even slight amusement and joy he felt when he excitedly popped up from the sky on the uniquely dark-colored banshee. While the Marines were all resting from the action and exhilaration of claiming their mounts at their floating pit stop location, Spider was taking a moment to tell them how to best design a saddle based on how Na'vi ride their banshees. At one point, Spider lightly confronted Ja for disagreeing with him, pointing out, "If you rode it like that, it couldn't breathe, dumbass." The other Marines chuckled. Ja was unamused. But the Marines all exerted a lot of effort claiming their banshees, so they were just kind of winding down, taking in the sights of the beautiful scenery around them. Mansk was particularly enjoying his new mount, standing next to it and petting its face gently. Miles was at a distance from his Marines, standing at the edge of their floating mountain, looking out into the sky at the Hallelujah Mountain Range. Pensive. His right hand on his hip, left hand clutching the top of his vest, his tail swaying gently. This was the location of his past life's last stand. He was also thinking about what he just achieved and found himself also greatly relieved and thankful that he just survived that ordeal— which he very easily could not have. One wrong move, or if the banshee pulled from him, it was over. He'd have plummeted to the surface and that would be the tragic, non-climatic end of this new life of his. Dying yet again at the surface underneath this mountain range. What a shit way to go. Can't believe the kid omitted such a crucial piece of information. "Did I mention you're supposed to tie the mouth shut first?" What a little shit. Should give him that old school ass whippin' just for that, Miles thought. Miles shook himself from his bleak thoughts and heard his Marines talking and laughing and walked over to them. They were sharing what names they were going to give their banshees. Z-Dog looked at her approaching Colonel and said, "So Colonel, what's yours's name? Cupcake, right?" she said cheekily and chewing bubblegum. "That's what you called it before you decked it in the face." "Cupcake, huh?" replied Miles. He looked towards his banshee, who mildly hissed at him when they made eye contact. He said, "Fits." [Flashforward to Miles flying on Cupcake, nothing but sea in front of him.]

He would of course come to learn that Cupcake was female, thanks to a brief biology quip from Dr. Ian Garvin, the jaded marine biologist and scientific head of CET-OPS though he didn’t much seem like he was the head of anything. He pointed out something about the anatomy of her chest, as well as her back legs that were relevant to egg-laying. Miles didn’t care to remember the details he just knew Cupcake was his girl.

Miles, injured, could sense through the bond that Cupcake wasn’t 100% either. When putting his water canteen back he looked down at the gear on her neck and noticed blood stains and tears. This was from when Jake Sully's monster flying fish leaped out of the water to grab her and pull her down, sending Miles flying and Cupcake panicking, desperate to get out of the water and fly away. Just that memory alone made Miles want to drive a knife through Sully’s skull. The emotion made Cupcake hiss and growl lowly while flying.  

Miles soared over the vast open water, blue azure beauty as far as the eye can see, the faint but ever present daytime Polyphemus watching above. Ocean-going banshees were flying in the distance, nalutsa and wild tsurak were swimming in the clear waters below. Miles was not lacking in basic emotion, and through his pain, he could appreciate the beauty, in many ways it was a welcome distraction.

As a recombinant, he was able to take in this sight, one that his past life certainly never had on Earth in his equivalent younger years. He recalled a memory of experiencing his first truly clear skies on the first day of his long, illustrious tour on Pandora. Of course, Miles’ recom body has never known anything else but Pandora.

The conflict of human memories versus his actual experience as a recombinant would sometimes creep up to be too much to bear. He flicked away these thoughts like a flick of his tail… which having one was also too much to bear sometimes. But he’d rather think about his tail, his blue skin, his big yellow eyes, and his pointy moveable ears than confront the existential crisis that built up inside him.

As he glided, assuming that Cupcake had her bearing to Bridgehead City from her connection with him, he looked at the water far down below and noticed white wakes on the sea’s surface. He gently, psionically guided Cupcake to fly lower, so he could see the source.

The wakes were caused by boats. Lifeboats and life rafts in tow. Survivors of the Sea Dragon disaster! Miles honestly felt great relief knowing that his commandeering of the ship didn’t lead to a total human loss. That was certainly never his intention. Especially after Jake Sully ignited the missiles of the crashed gunship before laying waste the remainder of the SEC-OPS guards in his attack with his batshit crazy wife.

He was going to fly in closer, but decided it might be best to keep a distance and fly on. He at least knew he was headed in the right direction to Bridgehead upon seeing these boats. He kept flying, passing over them, being sure to stay high up in the air lest he be noticed as anything more than a distantly flying banshee.

Something was interesting though, two banshees were flying near the boats a little bit ahead of them, but low. Miles remembered that he had a pair of binoculars stowed in Cupcake’s pack. He pulled them out, every reach and stretch of his arm was pain, and weakly brought them up to his eyes—which he couldn’t believe his sight.

It was Lyle Wainfleet and Devin Mansk! Miles’ relief grew. Some of his Marines survived. Thank god. They must have barely escaped the death throes of the ship, got their banshees, and high-tailed it the hell out of there, he figured.

Miles had Cupcake speed up over the lifeboats and dove in closer to join his fellow recoms in front of the caravan of human survivors. Weakly, he touched his fingers to the comms piece on his neck and said, “Lyle, Mansk. Come in Marines.” Miles waited a moment.

“Holy shit, Colonel, sir. You’re alive!” said Wainfleet excitedly over the earpiece. Miles made his first smile since his survival, hurting his face to make it, and he said, “Corporal, you know a Marine can’t be defeated.”

“Oorah, sir.” said Wainfleet over the comms.

“Oorah,” said Mansk.

Read more on AO3 or Wattpad! (I just put it up on Wattpad). Gonna also start tagging things I share of my story with hashtag #ANMAF so people can keep track

[xenomorphee3]

Chapters 10 and 11 are up!!! Part 1 and Part 2 of "Ready"

AO3 Link

Wattpad Link

Sorry for the double delay 😭

But they're better than they would have been if I rushed in posting them, I promise. Once again, one chapter became two (ugh haha). And unlike with the first story I am NOT trying to have any 12k word chapters haha

This is just to make it easy on readers. Sure, a chapter-arc may technically span that amount of words, but for example for this one I just split it into Ready, Part 1 and Ready, Part 2.

Now I knoowww that the people who are invested in the story will read a 2k word chapter or a 15k word chapter if they had to 💙 (you all finished Ash to Fire which I think had seven 10k+ word chapters, two over 12k) but I feel mentally better if I bake in natural breaks for you all ^_^

[xenomorphee3]

Will us readers get more Zem and Quaritch moments in the sequel? I know Zem is a momma’s boy but I would really enjoy seeing Quaritch bond with Zem.. I think deep down he’s quite fond with a second son bc he probably has a lot of regrets for not being there for Spider particularly as a baby and obviously as he got older.

Also when can I expect your sequel to come out? 💙

Absolutely you will! I have a sweet one written already : ) It's going to be a very well fleshed out story.

And I agree with your assessment of how Quaritch views Zem as a second chance in raising a son--in a way that doesn't erase Spider of course ^_^

So I am eager to drop the first two chapter on two conditions--

The first is that the art I commissioned for it is completed! (or solid work in progresses by a certain time)

The second Is that I write about six to eight chapters ahead of time so I can write more relaxed and with some cushion as I plan to drop two chapters a week until completion.

I'd say... I'm going to give myself a hard deadline of September 1st! Two Fridays from now 💙

[xenomorphee3]

idk if i’ve sent this question already so if i have pls ignore this 😭

im really curious about zu and neytiri, what do you think neytiri and zu would’ve thought of one another had zu not been with quaritch or/and the rda? assuming they somehow made contact with each other. i also can’t help but wonder if jake was out of the picture what their relationship would’ve been like, if there could be one.

asking this bc zu is kinda similar to neytiri. both being daughters of a clan leader, the parallel between tarzem and tsutey (fyi genius writing), and the fact that they essentially mated with a sky person (kinda?) they’re also badass women let’s be fr 💙

I would never ignore a question! ^_^ And it's a great one.

So the Ash Na'vi of my story hold antipathy and a major grudge toward Forest Na'vi for driving them from the mainland a very long time ago. So I think Zu would just dislike Neytiri for being a forest Na'vi regardless of her relationship with Quaritch and the RDA. And of course Neytiri as future Tsahik of the Omaticaya has a strong relationship with Eywa while the Ash People worship Ziye, so that would be an incompatibility as well.

Though I wouldn't put it past Zu to, through such dislike, still moderately respect what a fierce warrior Neytiri is. There is a moment in my story where even the Ash Na'vi lend verbalized respect regarding Jake as Toruk Makto despite him being their enemy.

And who knows... maybe we'll get some more interactions between Zu and Neytiri in the sequel 👀

And thank you in general for this comment and appreciating Ta'zem's parallels with Tsu'tey and liking Zu as a badass! That's of course a major challenge in creating original characters that comfortably and enjoyably fit within a story with the canonical characters we cherish. I am so flattered that people enjoy ANMAF's OC's 💙

[xenomorphee3]

what is the age gap between human quaritch and zu? 👀 also what do u think zu or the ash clans think of the battle between rda and the forest navi (avatar 2009) ? do u think they sided w the rda or they didn’t really care? 🩵

So Zu in ANMAF is Miles' age-ish. So say 19-21. So I guess the age gap between her and Quaritch's former human self is ~30 years! 😅 But of course our new Quaritch has a uniquely fused middle-aged human man mind combined with the youth of his new Na'vi body, mind included, which is also in its early twenties (I know the visual dictionary says 20 which is fine, but I use that as an approximation rather than an exact absolute. He and Zu are essentially the same physical age :)

Regarding how the Ash People felt about the Battle of 2154, I'd say the same way Tonowari in Way of Water was like, "Toruk Makto is a great war leader, all Na'vi people know the story... We cannot let you bring your war here," implying that they knew but weren't involved is where the Ash People would have fallen. Add on that a layer of if they knew, they also probably didn't care and hadn't yet made direct contact with the RDA. First contact was in 2169/2170 (Way of Water era) 😊

[xenomorphee3]

Just curious!! For the sequel, will we see more moments of Lex and Zem as babies or toddlers or does it focus on their future after the epilogue chapter? 💙

We will see both! The story will be very Way of Water-esque with Lex and Zem as 15 year olds, but there will be tons of flashbacks to those cutie pie eras I promise 💙

Those are particularly fun and enjoyable to write and conceptualize ^_^

[xenomorphee3]

you announcing the sequel for your quaritch fic made my day 💙 i absolutely love ur fic & can say it’s not just my favorite quaritch fic but my favorite in general <3 i cannot wait to see zu and miles’ family life omg

YOUR message made MY day! I am so so flattered by such a comment! Motivation before I even drop the first chapter 💙💙💙

I am really enjoying writing it so far! Fans of the first are in for a treat I think. Stay tuned!

Happy there are others still on the Avatar and Quaritch train. I don't think I'm getting off any time soon haha.