#Avatar Mercer

[sutxdreamwalker]

Frontiers of Pandora Incorrect quotes

Aha’ri: all we want is to be free and reconnect with are roots

Mercer: god, your all so selfish, die

Aha’ri: we are literal children

_________________

Mecer: If your ever bored, punch an orphan, what are they gonna do? Tell there parents?

_________________

Teylan: grill..cheese

Sarentu: what?

Teylan: grill me a cheese

Sarentu: I’m not grilling you a cheese

Teylan: *cries*

Sarentu: oh for Eywa’s sake

*grills a cheese*

_________________

Sol’ek: life is nothing but a hell of death and loss

Sarentu comes into the picture: hi!

Sol’ek: ok maybe life is not bad-

_________________

Ubisoft: Aw, these na’vi children are so precious

Also Ubisoft: *dumps trauma on them*

________________

Alma: if Sol’ek jumped off a cliff, would you?

Sarentu: ….

Alma: Sarentu!

Sarentu: what?

Alma: don’t jump off a cliff!

_________________

Everyone in the resistance planning stuff

Priya: question, can we have like laser swords? I’ve watched a lot of anime and trust me, you gotta have lasted swords

Sol’ek: what’s an anime?

Priya: we have so much to discuss

_________________

[terrythemerry]

Alma notes/logs + some of my thoughts on them.

Warning these notes are very spoiler heavy and talks about a lot of late game content.

@elffees

These are some of Alma’s easiest to find notes and on the surface they paint a picture of a kind, maternal woman worried about the kids she was forced to leave behind. Two words jump out at me in the last two notes though “sacrifice” and “choice. I’ll talk about that at the end though. The next part is where things get messy.

These are all her notes, the rest of this is going to be a bit of a rant because these last few notes are the ones that make my blood boil.

Alma never planned on rescuing them. While putting on a motherly facade she planned on leaving all of the Sarentu survivors to rot until their life support gave out. The only thing that made her act was the fact that wonderful Priya found out we were there, otherwise no one was coming for us.

Then there is how she refers to the children in “The Final Option”. She talks about all the potential glory and accolades she’ll get once she “has” them. Not when they come to her, when she possesses them. She acts like she doesn’t know in the notes, but she admits in game that deep down she knew they were going to steal the kids and killed Na’vi and let it happen anyway so she could have her little project. This is the “sacrifice” she’s trying to frame in the note “Back to Tap”. Personally I don’t see how a genocide and kidnapping is in anyway a “sacrifice”, sounds more like a war crime to me.

Last is the School Records and two things important to note are the initials in the document and the of “additional note” versus “note”. The initials show that only two people wrote in this document AC (Alma Cortez) and JM (John Mercer). Every single section degrades the children and talks about the “best” ways to manipulate them to TAP’s goals before being followed up with an “additional note” by Alma saying the opposite. The thing is I fully believe that Alma wrote the original sections and that the “additional notes” have been edited in later to try and cover her involvement in TAP.

The thing that makes me think this is Alma’s position as teacher and Mercer’s note. Alma was the one who spent the most time with the students, she’s the one who observed every aspect of their day to day, so she is the only person it would logically make sense to write about their temperaments and interests. Mercer had other things to do besides sitting around a classroom all day watching these kids, same for Harding. They’d be able to step in as discipline and for surprise inspections, but Alma was clearly the main observer. That means all the coded talk about discipline(abuse) and skills(usefulness to the RDA) is all her.

Mercer’s note was the big tip off to me that she retroactively edited the document. Mercer’s only note is that Aha’ri was killed. It was probably entered immediately after her death, because Mercer doesn’t care. He’s meticulous, organized, compulsive, etc. He doesn’t see the children as anything more than a tool so he has no shame in updating the document like it was a regular note about a generator going out. Because he entered it immediately the entry was logged as “note”.

A lot of websites will mark a comment as edited after a certain amount of time has passed. I feel like this is the case with the “note” vs “additional note”. The second giveaway is that Alma’s final note calling Mercer’s murderer is also logged as an “additional note” when there is no reason for Alma to manually input it herself. By that logic all of the additional notes were logged long after the original document was made and it’s just Alma’s way of trying to minimize her role in the abuse at TAP. This means that all of the suggested “discipline” aka brutal bone breaking and beatings was recommended by her in certain cases.

Alma isn’t a good person, she has a toxic savior complex and will go to any means to see that vision met. She might be on the right side, she might be doing good things now, but she is not a good person. Maybe she can be forgiven one day, but she’s still in toomuch denial about her own involvement to be forgiven this day.

[recomgarbage]

The crap murderous Mercer has put me through

[anxious7sami]

I was looking at afop stuff and I noticed something. Aha’ri didn’t have a scar when she was younger but she does the last time we see her(granted the scar is healed).

Anyway, I wonder what happened 🤔 I bet Harding or Mercer had something to do with it

[midground]

Ok, Aabria opened Burrow's End with

"Earth."

And now I NEED someone to draw Brennan, Matt, and Aabria as benders for their respective elements.

[nikloka]

Anqa is a menace but speaks what we all think

How I love background dialogues

Anqa talks about Harding and Mercer

[dilfsyndrome]

Found this at the party,

✨ Cute ✨

[naavispider]

Merciless

What if, 16 years after his Ambassador Programme failed, Mercer returns Bridgehead to deliver his quarterly mining report to Ardmore, only to run into Quaritch? What if he'd heard whispers of a human boy captured from the hands of the Na'vi, with incredible physiological adaptations? And what if Quaritch knew of Mercer's merciless past... his history with children who don't belong? (Inspired by a prompt from @hyperfixatedfandomer 💞)

“There’s only so much you can do, boss…” Wainfleet’s voice tailed off as they entered the mess hall. The canteen was filled with soldiers hungry for lunch, who all looked up at the recoms as they entered. They still hadn’t gotten used to seeing them around base. 

The men weren’t what got Quaritch’s guard up, however. There was something else. A face, across the room… one he hadn’t seen in sixteen years. 

Quaritch’s usually alert tail stilled behind him. John Mercer’s presence filled any room he occupied with a heavy sense of trepidation. It was a feeling that Quaritch had become familiar with as a human, one that he himself exuded. Looking at the disgraced RDA leader now, Quaritch was disturbed to find that the sense of unease exuded by his ugly presence had only grown.

“As I live and breathe…” Mercer’s eyes caught Quaritch’s and widened in disbelief. He had always been a short man, even shorter now that Quaritch had grown several feet himself, but unlike most men who seemed to shrink in Quaritch’s presence, Mercer stood up straighter. His thick set eyebrows framed his calculating, dark eyes. “Miles Quaritch, they told me you’d come back, but this is something…”

“Mercer,” Quaritch greeted him shortly. He closed the short gap across the canteen. “It’s been a while.”

“And Lyle Wainfleet too,” Mercer’s eyes roved over Quaritch’s second in command, taking them both in. 

“I didn’t expect to find you here,” Lyle commented awkwardly.

Mercer’s lips curled up in an unpleasant smile. “I wasn’t about to pass up a shot at revenge. Much like yourselves I assume. What have they got you running around for now, then?”

Quaritch’s tail flicked involuntarily behind his back. The conversation around them had quietened, the soldiers who were eating nearby interested in this exchange, though they tried to hide it. 

Something in Quaritch told him not to divulge the specifics of his latest mission to Mercer. The man opposite him was known for his brutality and mercilessness, and an uncomfortable sensation was starting to prick at the back of Miles’s neck.

He sniffed. “Same old business, Mercer. Sully’s still out there. Which means we got races to run.”

Mercer appraised him for a moment, as if still taking in Quaritch’s new body. “There’s no doubt they got the best parts of you in there,” he said slyly. “I always admired your… commitment to the cause.”

Quaritch nodded. “What about you, Mercer? I thought the Ambassador Programme closed down after the war.” A sliver of unease ran its way down Quaritch’s spine. A nagging sensation that even as he said them, his words could be wrong. 

A sly smirk slithered its way across Mercer’s dark features. The soldier who he’d just been talking to grabbed his tray and moved on, leaving them to it. “The Ambassador Programme was cut short too soon. We were in the process of wielding great results.”

Quaritch nodded, making sure to keep his ears from flicking backwards in annoyance. If there was anyone who would be able to read him, it would be John Mercer. 

“I’m in the mines now. Overseeing production in the North. Only checking in with base every now and then to report on progress. It doesn’t quite have the… job satisfaction… as my previous work.” The slippery tone of his words floated across the air ominously. “Speaking of, I’ve heard some very interesting things about you, Colonel.”

Quaritch had become too still. 

“Tell me... Is it true what they’re saying?”

“I’m afraid I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Quaritch replied evenly, trying to appear uninterested. His heart was thundering. 

“Come now, Quaritch. Don’t be coy.” His ugly smirk was back in place, and Mercer took another step closer, leaning in so that the other soldiers wouldn’t be able to hear. “There’s a human boy on base. One that grew up on Pandora, with the natives.” 

Quaritch schooled his expression, looking down at the ugly little man in front of him. How had Mercer found out about the kid? “He’s being ground for information now. There won’t be much left of his brain when they’re through with him. He’s worthless.”

“Oh, I’m sure I could get some results.”

Beside him, Wainfleet took a step towards Mercer. “The kid is in SecOps custody. There are no plans to release him.”

Mercer turned to Lyle, his hungry expression settling into one of boredom. “A shame.” He returned his icy eyes to Quaritch, each word dripping with threat. “A great shame. That boy is worth a great deal.”

Quaritch couldn’t help the flinch his hand made towards Mercer. Every inch of him wanted to throttle the vile man standing before him. He had to cool it. 

“As my Corporal said, the boy is undergoing information extraction. He’ll be put to use by our SecOps. Apologies if you had any interest.” 

Mercer never stopped smiling, as if he already had a plan. It was beginning to scare the shit out of Quaritch. Eventually, Mercer made a gesture of acceptance, jovially exclaiming that he might still ‘get his hands on’ Spider eventually. 

It was all Quaritch could do to nod goodbye curtly as Mercer turned to rejoin his companion at a table across the hall. 

“What a psychopath,” Lyle mumbled. 

Quaritch didn’t know how to respond. He had never seen how creepy Mercer’s attitude was until now. In all his years as a human, it had never bothered him. Hell, he’d even been curious to hear about Mercer’s progress with TAP. Why now did it boil his blood to picture Mercer locking Spider into one of his science experiments? 

It was no worse than what the kid was facing now in the Neuroscanner. 

Quaritch set his jaw, thinking hard. “Spider needs to talk.”

With Mercer sniffing around, eager to snap Spider up into some sick reimagined version of the Ambassador Programme, Quaritch doubted that Ardmore would be lenient, even if the kid did talk. 

“Okay, but what then?” Lyle pressed as they grabbed their food. “He reveals Sully's location and then… the RDA dispose of him?”

“Jesus, Lyle, I don’t know!” Quaritch didn’t want to think about it, because he didn’t have the answers. 

“If the kid talks, he’s sealing the nail in his coffin.”

Quaritch looked up sharply from the coffee he was pouring. 

“He’s of no more use to Ardmore,” Lyle said, with the air of delivering bad news to a sick patient. 

“That’s not gonna happen.”

He didn’t know how, but he had to make a deal with Ardmore. And he had to do it before Mercer got there first. 

***************

“Well, well, well. John Mercer. I never thought I’d have the privilege.” General Ardmore flicked the report closed on her desk, determining that that particular problem would have to wait. “What brings you to my door?” She narrowed her eyes shrewdly, though she thought she had an inkling already. 

“General,” Mercer saluted before entering her office, closing the door behind him. “Thank you for seeing me. Word of your successes gets around. I’m sure you’re a busy woman.” He paused, but Ardmore made no sign of replying. He decided to cut to the chase. “I assume you know about my previous projects on Pandora?”

“You assume correct.”

“Well, mining is essential to our progress here, but I’m sure you can understand it isn’t where my heart lies.”

Ardmore sighed. “Your efforts in helping to colonise the Western Frontier have not gone unnoticed. You’ve made a strong vice president in resources acquisition.”

“Thank you, ma’am.” He bowed his head. “However I cannot deny that I feel somewhat… misplaced in my current deployment. My previous programmes-”

“Your previous programmes were shut down. And for good reason.”

“The Ambassador Programme was leading to real results!” Mercer urged, taking a step towards Ardmore’s desk. His passion came through in a way Ardmore hadn’t expected of the washed up, sleazy ex-mission leader. He came alive when he spoke of TAP. 

“I can promise you right now, if you hand the human boy over to me, I will get you results.”

Ardmore considered him, joining her hands together on the table in front of her. Mercer looked desperate - greedy - which was precisely the quality that worried her most about him. She wasn’t above brutality in war, but Mercer didn’t seem to have a conscience at all. He proved that when he ordered the massacre of the TAP children. 

“And precisely what kind of results do you think I’m after?” she asked.

“You want the location of Jake Sully, right? So do I. I can get you that, first and foremost. But the boy is worth far more than just that. He’s grown up on Pandora. His whole physiology is different - he has adaptations we can study and utilise. He can teach us so much about how to adapt in this environment. We can learn how to use this to our advantage!”

“I hear what you’re saying, Mercer. And yes, eventually it would make sense to study him. But we are at war. And there are other considerations to be taken into account.”

Mercer paused. “Other considerations, ma’am?”

It was sensitive information, but Ardmore saw no point in hiding the truth. “The boy. He’s the biological son of Miles Quaritch.”

Mercer’s jaw had tensed, his eyes narrowing. 

Ardmore continued. “The recombinant Colonel has already started to form… an attachment. The RDA poured billions into his creation and we cannot afford any… defects. The situation is sensitive. I’m afraid we are bound by keeping Quaritch on side.”

At this, Mercer visibly bristled. “So you’re holding back the progress of all mankind on the whim of not wanting to upset your Colonel?” 

His voice had risen just too much. Ardmore wouldn’t entertain this tangent any longer. “That, is not your place to question, Mercer. It is my decision what happens on this moon, and I do not take kindly to insubordinates.”

This seemed to have stumped Merer, though he still surveyed her with a foreboding glint in his dark eyes. “Of course not, ma’am.” His voice was silky smooth, laced with poison. “I would never mean to imply I disapprove of your decisions, hard as they may be.”

“Is that all, Mercer?”

Mercer smiled. Ardmore wasn’t easily intimidated, but he had the uncomfortable ability to make her skin crawl. “Yes, ma’am. I apologise if I overstepped the line.”

“See that your next report has the highest gross profit,” she said by means of dismissal. 

Mercer bowed his head respectfully and was about to leave before turning, his hand on the doorknob. “If you run into any… problems… with your Colonel, you know where I’ll be.”

With that, the greasy haired man disappeared around the corner and out of view.

[skxawngonearth]

Frontiers Memes without context

(cut for Spoiler protection)

PS. I don't know how to meme

[binaxenon]

I call this one *Ouchie*

"Walking Through Memories"

[this-world-of-beautiful-monsters]

It's so funny how So'lek is such a huge part of FOP's marketing/reputation even though (from my perspective, anyway) when you get to the meat of the story he really just. disappears or moves firmly into the background for big sections of the story so you can focus on speedrunning processing obscene amounts of childhood trauma and helping your nerd buddy break up with his creepy older boyfriend.

[sutxdreamwalker]

A Flickered Flame of Sarentu

Something Dear

Summary: Ah’so gets something taken from her, Nor and the other comfort her, now a chance to get it back comes up and Nor try’s to do the impossible

A/n: angst, comfort, Mercer being a bitch, fluff moments, red dividers not mine

Bold - Speaking in na’vi

Word index:

Sa’nok - Mother

Years ago na’vi children in the western frontier were taken from there clan by humans, they soon began there training in TAP.

The children were raised and trained like they were humans, but that unfortunately made them start to forget their na’vi heritage, but they still hold the things they barely remember dearly.

A na’vi girl named Ah’so keeps a tiny wooden angtsìk that was carved with the help of her mother, the only thing she has left.

She takes it everywhere but try’s not to let it be seen by the humans especially John Mercer, the man that is the cause of the children being there. He just wants them to be formed to soldiers to fight against there own people if necessary.

———————————————————————

Currently the children are in the cafeteria eating there dinner after a long day of learning again.

Ah’so is looking down at the table playing with her little wooden toy completely in her own world of thought.

She thought how the creature that her wooden toy was supposed to be would be like up close, she was fascinated with creature even though she hardly knew anything about it, only how it looked.

She also thought about the dreams, that were more like nightmares, that had her mother in it. Ah’so hardly remembers her family but she often has dreams about some kind of memory. A memory about her watching her toy being carved and the sweet, comforting voice of her mother.

The memory dose not show her face, only her hands. Hands that use to hold her and make her feel safe, and carved the small toy creature made of wood.

Mercer says that her mother abandoned her like everyone else’s family’s but she doesn’t believe that, she refuses to believe that. How could a kind, comforting, caring mother abandon her child?

Ah’so continued to play quietly with a small smile on her face as Mercer and two soldiers walked in and the children stopped whatever they were doing and faced them for a moment before looking at another direction, not wanting to look at the man they did not like.

Mercer walked over but not as close to the tables they were sitting at, he would do this to make sure that everyone wasn’t doing anything he didn’t allow.

Ah’so immediately stoped playing with her toy and tried to hide it by covering it with her hand but unfortunately Mercer saw it and walked over to her.

“Ah’so, your not allowed to have that piece of wood outside your bunk” he said as Ah’so held the carving tightly not saying a word.

“You know the rules, yet you disobey them” he sighed then held out his hand unfortunately of her “give it to me, now” he said in a stern tone.

Aho’so looked down at his hand, she didn’t want to give up the only thing she has. She held her toy even tighter, Mercer didn’t like that.

“Listen Ah’so, give it now, I am not asking” he definitely did not have the time for this. The other children just watched, they couldn’t do anything cause they knew it would only make things worse.

Aha’ri tho wanted to lash out but her younger sibling wouldn’t allow it so she just stayed put glaring at Mercer.

Nor definitely wanted to lash out at Mercer as much as Aha’ri did, he like everyone else knows that Ah’so’s carved toy was dear to her, he had a strong bond with her so he always felt the need to help, protect, and comfort her.

At a time like this he wanted to defend her but the glances he got from the other kids basically told him not to, it would only make things worse.

Mercer was getting frustrated with this “Ah’so, do as I say, now!” He yelled and that made her flinch. Ah’so didn’t want to suffer Mercer’s wrath but also didn’t want to listen and give her most beloved thing.

She slowly and shakily loosened her hold on the carving and extended her arm a little in hesitation, it seemed that she was gonna surrender the craving but it also seemed like she wasn’t.

Mercer grabbed her hand and tried to forcefully take the craving but she tried to pull her arm away from him and hold onto it as best as she could but Mercer unfortunately managed to rip it out of her hand.

Ah’so gasped slightly and reached out a little to her toy but knew that there’s not way she was gonna get it back. “You try and disobey me again, I will not hesitate to do something you won’t like” Mercer threatened. Aho’so had a sad and scared look on her face, on the verge of tears.

Mercer gave the children one finally glare before he and the shoulders left. When they did Ah’so started to sniffle and soon sob, Nor immediately put a hand on her shoulder then caressed her back.

“It’s ok, it’s ok Ah’so” he said softly as Aha’ri and Ri’nela went over and tried to comfort her too. Ah’so kept on crying and tried to wipe as many tears from her eyes “I..I want it back” she sobbed. Nor held her hand gently “I’m sorry, I don’t know if there’s a chance”. Nor wanted to say yes, that they could get it back but when he thought about it there was no way they could.

“Look, even if there’s no way we can get it back now, that doesn’t mean that you won’t see it again” Aha’ri said trying to make her have hope “I’m sure you’ll see it again and maybe that’s when we can try and get it back”.

Ah’so looked at her friend and sniffled some more before wiping some tears on her face “ok, I can wait for that day” she said with a small smile but hints of sadness in her voice. Aha’ri smiled “good, just have hope, that’s one thing Mercer can’t take away from us”.

———————————————————————

It was night and everyone was in there bunks laying down ready for bed. Ah’so wasn’t sure if she was gonna sleep well tonight without her angtsìk toy but she had to try. “Sleep well, Ah’so” Nor said from on top of his bunk “you too” Ah’so replied.

She took a breath and closed her eyes to let the calm feeling of sleep take over. Ah’so eventually fell asleep at some point.

During the quiet tie of sleep Ah’so had the dream again, her mothers arms, her sweet voice, her wooden angtsìk toy.

Her mother was singing some kind of lullaby, she could only make out it tune and some of the words. Everything seemed peaceful in the dream until it twisted like it has so many times before.

She could hear her mothers screams and could only see fire, and the angtsìk carving broke and burned in the flames, that part was not in her nightmares before, but something else being added in her nightmares was common.

“Sa’nok!” Ah’so screamed out and sat up when she awoke, tears flooded her eyes and went down her cheeks. Her scream woke up the other children, Nor climbed down from his bunk and went beside her.

He took her hand to let her know that he’s there “I’m here Ah’so, I’m here” he spoke in na’vi. Nor brushed his thumb over her hand and wiped her tears using his other hand.

She continued crying as some of the others were near to comfort her “did you have that nightmare again?” Nor asked.

Ah’so turned to face him slight and nodded “yeah” she sniffled “and I saw my carving broken, and burning”.

“Your craving is ok, I’m sure Mercer hasn’t done anything to it” Nor gently squeezed to her hand to give her reassurance. “But what if he has?” Teylan asked, not wanting to seem negative but the question did make Ah’so worry.

“Teylan!” Nor hissed at him “don’t make her worry!” he glared at him. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to worry her” Teylan frowned. “We know you didn’t mean it” Aha’ri said trying to ease the tension.

Nor sighed “Ah’so, I promise you, if there’s a chance, I will get your carving back” Ah’so looked at him with a tint of hope in her eyes “thank you, Nor” she gave him a nod with a small smile.

“Now get back to sleep, I’m sure you won’t have another nightmare” Nor moved from her bunk but still holding her hand. Aho’so laid down, she and Nor slowly let go of the other’s hand. Nor gave her a soft smile and climbed back into his bunk and the other got back onto there bunks. “Good night” Nor said before laying down and everyone started to fall asleep.

Ah’so didn’t have another nightmare that night and slept peacefully. Everything was quiet and peaceful until it was morning and everyone had to wake up for another day of learning.

_________________________________________

The children were in the classroom continuing the same lesson they had yesterday which was about how the kids were gonna do there ambassador job for good and how they were gonna do it, the usual.

Ah’so was looking down at her hands with a sad look on her face, she wasn’t paying attention at all.

Alma noticed and weak led over to her “Ah’so, what’s wrong?” She asked. The question made her look up at the avatar “Mercer took my carving” she mumbled looking down a again.

“Oh, why did he?” Alma kneeled down to be face to face with her. “I had it in the cafeteria” she replied still looking down.

Alma sighed “I’m sorry that happened” then Nor spoke up “isn’t there something you can Alma?”. Alma turned to him and shook her head “I can’t, there’s nothing I can do”.

Nor frowned and balled up his fists of course Alma couldn’t do anything, she never helps them from Mercer’s abusive actions.

Ah’so sighed in disappointment “I’m sure everything’s gonna be ok” Alma said patting her on the shoulder gently with a small smile.

Ah’so wasn’t really so sure about it tho.

_________________________________________

After a pretty long day everyone was heading back to there bunks.

While walking back Nor noticed Mercer talking to Harding but something caught his eye, it was Ah’so’s carving on a table behind them.

Nor saw this as some kind of chance, he could get into the room and just sneak behind the two humans when they weren’t looking.

But he exactly didn’t have experience so there’s a chance he might fail and get caught, then he would have to go face a horrible punishment.

Nor was willing to try anyway, for Ah’so. He was gonna need some help too, he tapped Aha’ri’s shoulder and she turned to face him “what’s wrong?” She asked.

Nor pointed to the table where the carving was, Aha’ri looked over and looked back at Nor “Ah’so’s carving” she whispered. “We can get it back” Nor whispered “I just need to sneak in quietly, I need you to keep an eye on Mercer and Harding to make sure they don’t see me”.

“You sure you don’t need me to come in with you?” Aha’ri asked “I’m sure, if I get seen you make a run for it, I don’t want you to get punished” Nor replied. “I’m not gonna let you get punished, whether you get seen or not” Aha’ri said and Nor sighed “ok, come on, and let’s hurry”.

The two quickly made there way near the entrance of the room, it was on the side so Mercer and Harding wouldn’t see them. Nor peaked a little and saw the two humans still talking. “I’m going in” he whispered and Aha’ri nodded.

Nor crouched down and slowly walked in the room, he glanced at Mercer and Harding for a moment before moving towards the table. He gotten closer and closer until finally he went underneath it.

He looked over at Aha’ri looking at him from the entrance. Aha’ri glanced at Mercer and Harding, they were still talking and didn’t see them.

She gave him a slight nod to let him know everything was fine and he could make his move. Nor gave a slight nod back and slowly moved from under the table to get up slowly.

He was still crouching but was tall enough to reach the top of the table to grab the carving. Nor started to reach his arm over, but he did it slowly while glancing up a little make sure the two humans didn’t turn around or didn’t hear him.

He was so close to taking the carving but his ears twitched as he heard one of the humans move

He looked with worry in his eyes, it was Mercer, thankfully he didn’t turn around but it seemed that he might. Nor just stared frozen in place, Aha’ri watched anxiously ready to move in if needed.

A slight moment went by and Mercer and Harding went back to talking, none of them turned around or noticed the presence of the young na’vi boy in the room.

Nor silently sighed in relived and moved his arm again, this time a little faster. I’m a swift move he grabbed the wooden carving. He immediately went underneath the table again holding the carving he had in his hand tightly. Aha’ri felt relived and smiled slightly.

He know had to get out of there, he looked at Mercer and Harding one final time until he silently made his way back to the entrance.

Aha’ri put a hand on his shoulder “you made it” she whispers with a smile. “I did it” Nor smiled too “now let’s get back to the others” he said and the two stood up and quickly made there way to the bunks.

No one was in the halls at the moment which was good, which meant they wouldn’t get in trouble and no one will know what they just did.

Meanwhile the others at the bunks worried and wondered where Nor and Aha’ri were when they noticed they weren’t with them by the time they got to the bunks.

“What do you think happened?” Ah’so asked pacing around the room in worry “how did we not notice them gone earlier?” Teylan frowned. “Do you think Mercer found them?” Aha’ri’s younger sibling asked “he might be doing something to them by now”.

“I’m sure there fine, they’ll be back” Ri’nela said trying to calm everyone down. Ah’so leaned back on wall “what if something happened to them? Are they ok? Are they hurt?” She mumbled to herself.

Everyone else was thinking the worse and some mumbled to themselves a little.

This silence of worry continued on until the door opened revealing Nor and Aha’ri. The kiss looked in surprised “Nor! Aha’ri!” Teylan exclaimed.

“Your ok!” Ah’so gasped in relief “of course we are” Aha’ri smiled “where did you two go?” Aha’ri’s sibling asked walking up to her “we went to get something” Aha’ri replied giving her sibling a calm smile to put them at ease.

“Get what?” Teylan asked tilting his head, Nor turned to Ah’so and revealed the wooden carving. Ah’so gasped along with the other children “my carving!” She went up to him “how did you get it?” She asked.

“Mercer and Harding were talking and your carving was on a table, they were distracted so I snuck in while Aha’ri kept watch, I got it without either of them turning around or glancing over” Nor explained with a smile. Ah’so looked at him with thankful eyes, looking like she was about to cry from joy.

The na’vi girl gently took her wooden toy from the boys hands and examined it, beginning to smile a little.

“There was a close call but nothing that serious, but thank eywa I-” Nor was cut off but Ah’so hugging him tightly “thank you” she said in a hushed tone “thank you, thank you, thank, thank you!” some tears of joy started to develop and Nor hugged back “your welcome”.

Ah’so gave him one final squeeze before letting go slowly, giving him a smile, some tear stains on her face. Nor smiled back.

Ah’so looked over at Aha’ri and walked over to her to give her a tight hug that she was grateful to return.

Ah’so gave her one final squeeze just like with Nor and let go slowly. “Thank you, Aha’ri” she smiled “your welcome Ah’so” Aha’ri patted her arm smiling back.

Ah’so looked back at Nor, the two smiled at each other warmly.

The warmth feeling of the smile felt like the fond embrace of a flickered flame.

[captainsvscaptains]

Prelims

Poll A

[recomgarbage]

Mercer’s answer would be: (part 2)

[zethsmo]

I FORGOT TO POST IT HERE OOPS

[pandorafallz]

Ashes in her wake | C2

Alma sipped slowly from her cool cup of herbal tea, her head still feeling foggy and tired but far better than she had been in the last couple of days since waking up after her transfer. Her body was healing well, according to Okul who had been tending to her more often and had the singular daily visit from Anufi to verify all was on track. Her visits were often very short.

Her burns were still bad and had another week to heal with dressing before she’d have to let it breathe and heal for a few days without, and her broken rib was still healing. It was estimated to be about two weeks before she’d be able to be more physically adventurous. A human bone, or rib, would take over a month to heal but Na’vi and Dreamwalker bodies were more resilient and coupled with efficient Na’vi medical treatments, the time was far shorter. The bruises looked bad but healing around the edges now. Most of the stitches from the debris had been removed this morning so she was feeling a little drained from that experience.

She had been left to rest in a quiet area of the Hollows, away from the people and she was thankful for the privacy when possible. She had been resting mostly when children would try and sneak in before their parents quickly pulled them away. Alma knew why; they had never seen a Dreamwalker before. Innocent souls with vast curious minds but she often remained posed as asleep so as to not make it awkward.

Still, the privacy had its… odd lonely tendencies when Okul wasn’t around so she kept herself occupied when not asleep with a few simple tasks, like spinning flax which was the easiest thing to do in her current state. Before Raj had joined the resistance on the second visit, Alma had to make or alter her own clothes for her avatar, a skill she had picked up after her first meeting with the Aranahe but she was no expert. She had learned it mostly to talk to the weavers and to get to know the clan better but it didn’t last. Spinning she could do, sorting fibres and combing it was another so it filled the hours without being too adventurous.

At least the tea was good. It helped bring down the swellings since. Her threadwork was set aside for now as she rested.

“<Dreamwalker,>” Okul appeared around the entryway quite cheerfully with a new set of bowls. “<I have brought food. Anufi is back. I believe she’ll join us soon so, while we wait, you should eat. A full belly is a happy one.>” They set the bowls down, simple meat and mushroom stew and took one to eat themselves to sip.

“<Thank you.>” She set her tea down, shifting the blanket from her legs and slowly reached forward and pulled it towards her, inhaling the savoury scent that drifted up.

“<How did you sleep? Resting well?>”

Alma took a hearty sip, chewing down slowly on a large piece of white mushroom with a stilled expression. “<Not really. Small dozing is dreamless.>” Fragments of memory always seemed to resurface at night although it was mostly Nor��s stabbing of her that replayed often, leaving her waking up at odd times shivering with phantom sensation down her right side. Resting during the day gave her some reprieve but… it hadn’t helped clear her head. She was fine. She could handle it.

It took years to stop seeing the Moot in her nightmares. Life had been easier once that had stopped. Something else now just took its place. She was sure Okul might have something to induce a dreamless sleep but that was a question for later.

“<Ah,I suppose that is still expected.>” Okul didn’t sound surprised, “<It has only been six days since…>” They trailed off but they both knew their implication.

“<I am aware.>” Her hand came to her side, not touching over the dressing too hard. “<how is the clan? It’s been very quiet. Only one child seemed to wander in earlier.>”

“<Very busy with the resistance. I don’t know too much myself but it seems very big and the Zeswa are very unhappy since the sky people brought down the celebration arches—>”

Alma almost choked on her stew, her eyes widening in alarm as she stiffened up. “<The RDA brought down the arches?!>”

Okul blinked in surprise at her outburst. “< A terrible event but the site was shut down by our Sarentu friend, they were there and saw it happen. The Upper Plains should not be attacked again with such horrible machines.>”

“<Is.. is she okay?>”

“<Of course, the Sarentu is a very good warrior. I do not know what has happened since but do not worry.>” Okul said, very firm in their belief and assurance.

Alma’s heart hammered before she forced herself to take a steady breath. Because… like it or not, she knew Kìoetey was a good warrior and no doubt had it handled and she didn’t doubt her skills but… she worried. Perhaps it was the maternal side of her that never had much of a chance to bloom due to Mercer’s interpersonal restrictions between her and the kids (and other personal reasons). Kìoetey was fine, they said.

Still. The Arches collapse was no small event either; the Zeswa were probably foaming at the mouth for revenge. At least The Resistance had all the tools to help warn and aid the Zeswa in achieving it without it turning into a one-sided slaughter against the Na’vi. Maybe she could help once she was cleared by Anufi somehow?

“<Relax. You’ll hurt yourself.>” Okul’s hand touched her wrist, reminding her of her bowl before she sat back with a huff.

“<I... I should be allowed to return to the Resistance now. I can probably be more helpful there than here.>” She could actually talk to So’lek and her people again. Socialise, even. It’d be pleasant to talk to them and she was sure a shared task would make it easier. She didn’t doubt the spread of gossip but it was probably worth the trip.

“<You’re not healed. You’d hinder them more than help in your current state, Alma.>” Okul said

“<I… I have to do something. I am part of the resistance.>”

“<You are doing something. Resting.>” Okul stated, “<You cannot fight and you have the concentration of a child and the sleeping pattern of a baby. I don’t believe you’ve fully realised the extent of what truly happened to you. It’s not quite there.>” They tapped their temple.

Alma shot them an annoyed look. “<My head is getting better.>”

“<Better does not mean healed. You’ve endured a significant trauma to not only this body but to your spirit; your spirit must rest to heal from being severed from your sky-people body and replanted into this. A few more days at the least before we can consider allowing you to roam free as a Meer deer. A sick or separating spirit can lead to never waking up. Are you willing to risk such a possibility?>”

“Ugh.” Alma groaned into the bowl, taking a less heartfelt glug but there was clearly no way to convince the Tsakarem here to allow her out. Their heart and mind was clearly set. At least the food was nice.

Okul sighed deeply. “<I know you are anxious to return but you must think of yourself as well. Once you’re done eating, I can show you where to put the threads you’re spinning to use.>”

Alma threw a glance at her basket but begrudgingly nodded. “<Okay.>”

She supposed it would be useful to know more things if she was going to be like this for another few days. She had no idea where her clothes were so she was given a spare waistcloth and top for the meantime which took some getting used to but she looked forward to returning for her old clothes. Maybe Raj could help her get something together as well? Increase her wardrobe. She’ll see, she supposed.

Alma eyed Okul’s clothing for a moment, on what inspiration she could draw from them, however, her curiosity piqued as she noticed the strap around their chest. She had seen them before, but… they did look good; very well crafted.

“<Those bottles you have on you, did you make those bottles yourself?>” She hadn’t seen many Na’vi wear them so… maybe that was more worth learning about as well.

Okul looked down to their chest, where the string lay crossed to their left side. They hummed curiously and pulled out forward. “<This interests you?>”

“<Yes, our bottles are made of glass or metal. I’d love to learn more of this… if you’d show me>”

Okul hummed far more cheerfully, their eyes lighting up excitedly. “<I’ll get the supplies. This will be fun>”

-

Okul was a good teacher, and it burned through time as they let her craft with them but she had only made one successful bottle, made from Meer Deer horn, twine and various plant saps that were heated at a few different temperatures to achieve different goals, such as waterproofing, glue and means of sealing the bottle of leaks. All fascinating.

She was quite proud of her bottle, just smaller than her palm but she let Okul fill it with some painkilling medicine so she painted a cross on its front in green paint with her little finger since it was the only colour on hand.

“<What is that symbol?>” Okul asked as she set it to dry.

“<It’s a Cross symbol. Sometimes religious in a human context but a red cross is a human symbol of healing, impartial humanitarian care and neutrality. Earth has a group devoted to care and this symbol is used to signify It.>” Alma explained, “<The group does not exist on Pandora so a cross, regardless of colour is more generic and often found on our medical packs to simply signify medical aid.>”

“<Fascinating.>”

“<If you’re curious, Kìoetey might show you where they are in abandoned sky people camps. I noticed she carries the gel packs from the kits for and from her missions.>”

“<Perhaps. I did not realise symbols like this carried weight.>”

“<Humans have had a written language for thousands of years, the symbols we have on boxes are often text to describe the group who owns them, the weight and size, the content and potential hazards>” Alma explained, “<I should probably draw out the symbols if you continually poke at sky people stuff… so you don’t hurt yourself.>”

“<I doubt that will be necessary but I appreciate your suggestion.>” Okul declined but finished up with the thread and took the bottle from her hands and showed her how to wrap the bottle and secure it. Hot wax was used to hold it into place before it was returned.

“<Thank you.>”

Alma slowly helped clear up with Okul, wincing a few times as she did so and Okul carried the tray away before she was left alone. Her fingers playing with her bottle, debating on if it was worth taking another nap because she was feeling tired now. The craft session had been fun but now… she was drained.

She sighed deeply, moving back into the blankets on the floor and lay back…

…

…

“<Alma. It is time for you to wake up. >”

The noise was abrupt, pulling her mind from the blissful dark within a couple of moments, her resting heart picking up quickly and her eyes snapped open to the hazy few of someone leaning over her. She groaned, blinking rapidly and rubbed her eyes before she realised it was Anufi.

Anufi was looking tenser than she had seen her before but clearly ready for something. She handed over a vial. “<Drink, this will provide you more energy.>”

Alma blearily held it, taking note of the tear-shaped bottle and tasselled stopper before she pulled the top off and down it. The taste was bitter and salty, but she felt the immediate surge of energy; her sleepy mind sharpened and her heart seemed to pick up fast within her chest. “Woah…”

Anufi’s head tilted, her hand coming to her chest first to feel her heart then pulled her hand up to the slight shake the new energy was giving her. Not quite like an adrenaline shot but it certainly felt like it. “<I should have allowed only half, I didn’t realise you’d absorb it so quickly. My apologies.>”

“<I’m a rapid metaboliser… the effect may wear off sooner than usual>” She had that as a human too but it was only ever prominent when drinking coffee… or back when she had an epidural for the C-section. She was surprised Anufi hadn’t clocked on sooner but… she supposed the daily visits weren’t enough to see. Okul knew given how many times they upped her medicinal tea strength the last week.

“<Then take a moment. The Sarentu are here and I feel your spirit is settled within this form enough to share your memories with them.>”

“<What? Today?!>” Alma couldn’t shake the alarm in her voice. “<I thought I had more time…>” She suddenly felt under prepared. Surely there was a few more days or hours for her to get mentally geared for this.

“<There is much happening that you do not know of and the Sarentu have waited long enough.>” Anufi said, not uncaring but stern in her words. “<I am not asking you, either. I did not tell you earlier so as not to get you too riled with anxiety or attempt to escape.>”

Alma swallowed thickly, her gaze dropping. “<I wouldn’t have run>” Not just on the basis of having a broken rib that was still healing but she couldn’t do that to the kids. The truth was coming out and she accepted that… just not suddenly and then and there. It was suddenly very overwhelming.

“<I can’t know that. You kept them in the dark for sixteen years and asleep for fifteen more. You have not been honest.>”

Alma sighed deeply and slowly scrambled out of her blankets, pulling her waistcloth straight as well as her top, her side aching uncomfortably so she kept her hand pressed softly to the dressing. Her tail didn’t settle and swished continually as she nodded for Anufi to lead the way; best to get this over with, right?

The stares were lingering, burning as she passed the people and some, she was glad did not notice her as they were too busy with their own work. She was led down and out of the main left-side structure and down past Heykinak who was crafting a new bow.

“<… is Anufi really letting a Dreamwalker into the Circle of Ancestors?>” A Kame’tire whispered of soft disapproval to her friend. “<It’s not right.>”

Alma stamped down her feelings in regards to that and instead focused ahead to see both Kìoetey and Ri’nela waiting close to the whispering Greatcaps.

Both looked a little mentally preoccupied but Kìoetey was crouched and content. Ri’nela was pacing a little, not so at peace but both turned their way at their entry into the circle. A few woodsprites bouncing close.

Kìoetey spared a look at her then away, then sharply back as if suddenly recognising her. “Alma?” She asked, her eyes dropping down to take her in fully. “You’re wearing Na’vi clothes?”

Alma’s arms came and wrapped around her chest, feeling a little self-conscious at the attention. “I didn’t have my clothes coming here. It was this or my underwear.” She felt the heat flood her ears and cheeks. At least her hair was the same.

“Ah,” Kìoetey nodded, “I forgot about that. Sorry, I should have asked So’lek or someone to bring some down.”

“That doesn’t matter right now,” Ri’nela spoke, drawing their attention. “<Now is the time for answers.>”

“<Indeed. Connect with Eywa, all who wish to see. I will stand by should you need me>” Anufi said, offering a space near the mushroom.

Alma’s stomach churned with dread and anxiety as she knelt by the strand of the Greatcaps, cool to touch with her fingers as she pulled it towards her, her other hand finding her kuru slowly but she found herself staring.

A hand touched her shoulder, almost burning but there was a soft squeeze. “<No more stalling.>”

“<I know…>” but she was scared. She knew she must tell this truth but… what would come of it.. she had no idea. Of course, she knew it’d only be worse if she kept finding reasons not to do this; the Sarentu wanted their answers. She couldn’t hide it forever.

Alma took a final breath before she let the end of her kuru curl around before she felt the familiar wash of white….

Then the next she found herself standing in the middle of a forest tunnel. Familiar in terms of a path once walked; the tunnels of the moot site. Eywa’s construct to house her memories in this visits to transverse rather than jumping to memory after memory. Allowing an ease of observation. Her memory was hazy but clearing the longer she stood there. Distant memories she had tried to suppress seemed to bubble and settle in the conceptual forest around her and waiting for her steps.

Them. Their steps

She wasn’t alone but she could feel Ri’nela and Kìoetey behind her close.

“Why is it dark?” Ri’nela asked. Her voice rang in her ears.

“I suppressed a lot of my memory,” Alma admitted. “I... I wanted to lock it away. From myself. From you.”

“To make it easier for you?”

“Guilt and shame will do that. It was my coping method. Now it all lies ahead of me.” She stared down the tunnel but found the strength to move and take the first few steps. “I know I have to show you the truth.”

The tunnel seemed so long and yet, she soon found herself at the first scene she had seen of the clan, the people so happy dancing around the fire and she felt… surge of memory resurface from the dark, the blue haze lightening with colour that made the two behind her gasp as she saw their people move and dance, the echoing drums.

“I’m starting to remember… back then, I was so thrilled at the idea of meeting the Sarentu. What that could have meant for us… me. I told myself we were doing a good thing but… that’s not how it ended.”

Ri’nela stepped forward before their vision was swamped with a new vision, flooding with the scene from the ship above. Watching from the outside, she saw the ship of soldiers; herself clinging on with uncertainty.

“This is where Mokasa told me to find the Sarentu but—”

“Hey,” Mercer’s tone was sharp, cutting her hesitant statement short. “No time for cold feet, now.”

“We’re just talking to them.” Her memory counterpart echoed, her tail lashing softly, “Do we need this many soldiers.”

“This is our last chance. They’re too primitive to understand what we can do for their children.”

Memory Alma looked more swayed at the latter of that statement, “It’s for the children…” her tone far softer.

“Exactly!” Mercer jumped onto that, “ Just think about what we can achieve. Finally.”

Airily, Memory Alma nodded, “We’re helping them. They’ll see it. In time…” Trying to sound hopeful.

The scene returned back to the clearing of dancing and celebrating Sarentu, but she couldn’t look at them as she led the way through. “It used to be beautiful here.” Alma said, “Then we came.”

Kìoetey tapered off a little to look at the group of children… then to paintings on the rocky wall. “That mural… I’ve seen it before. The colours are so vivid…”

Alma didn’t linger but her eyes came to the foggy shapes of humans, armed and the distant sound of their echoing, breaths that rasped through their mask filters.

The two Sarentu needed no context as to why they were there so they walked silently through these stilled moments. Dread settling in her stomach at what was next, the dark was heavy but she had little choice but to move on towards the clearing. Then they were lurched into a horrific scene.

“No! What are you doing?!” Memory Alma screamed out, amongst the soldiers who fired on the Sarentu. Bodies fall every few seconds from the flickers of metal. “Let me talk to them!”

“Don’t let them run!” Harding’s voice echoed the loudest. “We can’t find them in the forest”

“<Please, stop running! Don’t fight them!>” Memory Alma spoke in Na’vi as if that would stop the shooting. Two more Sarentu fell behind, fires no longer in control and spilling out…

“Harding. No one gets out.” Mercer called.

Memory Alma continued to look out at the scene in horror, helpless.

Then they were back… but the dancing scene they had started off was now a scene of death. Bodies laid as they fell.

Her mouth felt dry, a temporary numbness settling in which allowed her to speak. “I... I always said I didn’t know. But I did.” She admitted, leading on over the bodies because they could not stay here. “I hungered for glory… recognition at any cost. But our dream started with a massacre.”

She walked past the barrels of toxic chemicals, used to cover up and dissolve the bodies. Hide the evidence from the outside world. But the next and last clearing had her falter a little… little Aha’ri in her Sarentu clothing, crouching down in front of Colonel Harding… terrified and traumatised to have witnessed her clan’s demise. Her own mother’s death.

“No, Aha’ri…” Alma whispered with regret. She took a heavy breath to carry on, the guilt and the grief of her actions felt so tight around her ribs and threatened to choke her. “I had to focus on you. The children. Protect you… but now I know we’re the ones you needed protection from. We… We wanted our school. Our program. So we stole you. Your clan tried to stop us… so we killed them.” There was no denying her part in it. “My human death is no absolution to the crimes we committed here. I understand that…”

Memory Alma was kneeling now, almost defeated amongst the horror of the unexpected death and destruction. “The Na’vi will never forgive us. Never.”

“The Na’vi will never know,” Mercer said, cold as ever.

Memory Alma’s head bowed in shame, her shoulders sinking down.

“Here, take this.” Harding’s voice was bored.

 Memory Alma turned to see and her attitude changed to something soft as she rose carefully to Aha’ri who was more or less pushed her way. “Don’t worry, little one.” She pulled the girl close as if to shield the six-year-old’s view of the burning and death around. “I’ll protect you.” The loudest sound was the little doll Aha’ri dropped onto the grass…

She found herself back out of the memory, lingering for a moment before she felt Ri’nela and Kìoetey disappear from the memory… the clearing. Leaving her alone without a word. She swallowed thickly before she felt the grass under her real body return and the other hand touch hers…pulling her hand and kuru away.

The scene around was replaced by the Circle of Ancestors… Anufi stepped back to allow her space.

Alma’s head turned but she had no words to speak as the two Sarentu looked at each other, tears in their eyes but there was more to it. No words needed to be spoken as Kìoetey rose to her feet, jaw tensing and loosening. Ri’nela was quick to follow but first to leave with clenched fists and nothing said.

“K-Kìoetey…” Alma tried, her voice cracking.

“No.” Kìoetey shut her down instantly, not even looking at her before she more or less stormed from the circle…

Alma stared before she ducked her head, regret once again filling her stomach.

“Come, back to rest in quiet; they need time to comprehend what they have seen.” Anufi was stern, pulling her up to her feet but she had no strength to fight her on it; to try and chase after and explain but… her head felt funny. The energy she had had was fading fast and she felt the new dregs of tiredness behind her eyes.

“<Are-Are you gonna see too?>” She asked, allowing herself to follow.

“<Not today. I have seen enough pain and death. Hear me when I say this, do not mistake the care we provide as anything less than duty. As you’re part of the resistance, you’re an ally of Kame’tire and privileged, despite the blood on your hands.>”

Which as Alma understood, was the only reason she was still not shoved out into the cold like Mokasa. They held the same crime but Anufi knew the connections were thin between the human side of the Resistance and the clan; she was treading carefully to not snap those bonds when they needed them. A political move, so to speak. Mokasa on the other hand had no ties to protect him.

“<When can I go? Return to the resistance?”

“<Tomorrow>”

Alma nodded. “<Okay.>” She had time to plan her next course of action. She hoped Anqa would pick her up otherwise it was going to be a very long walk.