Chapter 13

A single tear slipped down Harry's face as Ra'sar's blue form disappeared into the forest. He could still hear the parting words hanging in the air like a promise.

"Friends do not say goodbye. Instead, we say see you soon."

Harry had been shocked by the mature and touching comment so had merely replied with. "Eywa ngahu" (May Eywa be with you.)

Climbing back into the rotorcraft and lifting off into the fresh morning breeze, Harry held the craft still and took in the view. The forest below covered the land from the cliffs to the horizon. The giant trees that stretched far above the rest, Ra'sar had informed him were called 'Tautral', (Sky Tree) and were often the location of tribes or packs of beasts such as the Ikran.

Harry had wanted to find out exactly where Ra'sars tribe was located, it would have been amazing to see, but there was too much conflict between humans and Navi for him to risk his new friend's home for his curiosity. Better they kept some distance.

Looking outwards to see, his island was illuminated by the still busy drones and the lights of his residence. However something was different. It seemed colder. Lonelier than before. The absence of Ra'sar's larger-than-life personality was felt more deeply than he expected. He had only been there for a few days but had imprinted heavily on Harry's heart.

With a tilt of the handle, the plane glided to the right and further out to sea. Now would be a good time to have another exploration.

No need to go back to an empty home just yet.

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The storm was far more severe than expected. The high winds and waves he experienced on his island, which grounded his plane for several days, were nothing but the outskirts of a far larger storm. It seemed Pandora did everything big; creatures, people, plants and now storms.

He passed islands he had flown over just weeks ago, but now could only navigate using the computer as he failed to recognise many of the landmarks. Trees had been ripped from their roots to be dumped far away. Great rock formations had crumbled under the storm's fury and now lay as rubble on the sea floor. Even the great roots of the world, which formed mangrove-like protection, were left cracked or broken.

He used the instruments and sensors on board to track the path of the storm. Luckily it seemed to have missed the Metkayina tribe, originating further east. Flying in the tail of the storm, Harry flew from island to island, tracking the devastation. Such a storm would be a rare occurrence, and any chance to gather data on its impact on the local ecosystems would be invaluable for his research.

The sun had crested mid-day but Harry persisted. Going further into the archipelago than he had ever gone. To islands not yet discovered. Far better to keep going and camp overnight on some foreign island than return home with half-finished data.

The scientist in him shook with joy at all the opportunities. Crisis such as these provided rare glimpses into the hardier aspects of Pandora. To find the mechanisms that would restart life. An example would be the roots of the world, a plant that grew so large that tribes of Navi often made their home nestled in its grasp. He had seen several examples of where all else had been destroyed, but they remained if a little damaged. The few trees and plants under it had been far better protected. That is what he needed for his home. Harry's island lacked such protection from the elements, if he could find a seed or a cutting, he might be able to cultivate it at his home.

Beep!

The thermal life sign detector sent out an alert. Harry looked at it annoyed. He had spent hours tweaking the programming after it was beeping for any life signs, which on Pandora was everywhere. He had altered it for the jungle, to detect the Navi life signs, so there shouldn't be anything triggering it in the middle of the ocean.

Seeing the red dot on his screen. He arched his body to look down through the glass screen of the cabin.

There was something there.

Something floating on the surface.

Alone.

Swooping down lower to get a better image, he recognised it.

It was ilu. Larger than his hungry friend and with more orange in his colouring. However the milky eyes meant only one thing.

It was dead.

Still clutching the ilu, was a Navi. One of the reef people with much lighter colouring than the forest variants. She had dark hair that was spread over her shapely body. Tribal tattoos decorated her young face, looking otherworldly peaceful. She was undeniably beautiful, even to Harry's confused human sensibilities. She was also undeniably not moving. Harry couldn't tell if she had passed on to Eywa, or was still clinging to life.

Taking the plane lower, until the waves lapped the base of the craft, he kicked out a rope ladder. A bloody wound on the ilu's head was now clear. Harry imagined it being thrown around in the storm, hitting a rock and drifting far out to sea. Far away from any possible rescue.

Taking off his shirt, and replacing it with a life vest, he dived into the bottomless ocean water. This was no swim in his little bay. There were no luminescent plants here to guide and comfort him. Darkness lay beneath him which only the most fearsome creatures could inhabit. He felt the absence of the ground beneath his feet, even as he floated. Every second a trespass.

Ignoring his primal reaction, he swam over to the Navi. Close enough now to reach out. His fingers stretched out toward her throat, he would be able to feel her pulse there. Suddenly, she let out a low moaning sound.

Snatching back his hands, still treading water to stay afloat, Harry smiled.

She was alive!

She tried to sit up, to see who was there, only to lose her balance. Slipping off the ilu's corpse on the opposite side to Harry.

Not believing his eyes, Harry looked down into the water and saw her starting to sink into the unknown.

Steeling his nerves, he divided down in the blackness.

Further and further, he swam down.

The pursuit stretched on, never quite fast enough to catch up.

The light dimmed and Harry could feel the water closing in around him. A pressure trying to force his breath out of his burning lungs.

A final push resulted in him in catching the wrist of the Navi. Pulling her into his chest, he wrapped an arm securely around her. Looking up at the shimmering reflection of the plane, he pulled on his life vest.

The red jacket quickly inflated and pulled him, and the Navi upwards towards the light.

Breaching the water, Harry gasped for breath. His underwater training mentally moving up on his priority list. With a herculean effort, he moved the Navi to his shoulder and forced his burning muscles to climb the ladder.

Collapsing on the desk of his plane, he tried to regain control of his breathing but failed. Ragged breaths coming fast and shallow.

Splash!

A wave came through the open door and into his mouth. Spluttering, he slid the door shut and then staggered into the cockpit to pull the lever back. The plane moved skyward, out of the range of the waves and anything that may hide within.

Returning to the Navi, Harry placed his ear on her chest.

Nothing.

For once, he was thankful for the mining base, they had at least included some basic medical training. Following the steps in his memory, he performed CPR. Pushing down on her chest, not only to restart her heart but also help to expel any water from her lungs.

Nothing.

Taking a deep breath, he locked his lips around her and blew in. Her chest rose and then fell. Harry listened for a response.

Nothing.

Repeating over and over, Harry was determined not to give in. If she had lasted all this time in the middle of the ocean, he refused to accept it was her time to die just as he arrived.

Cough!

The Navi woman suddenly coughed and splattered, the water blocking airways finally dispelled. Looking up at Harry with grateful eyes, she tried to speak but soon collapsed into an exhausted slumber.

Finally safe.

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Taking the opportunity, Harry touched down on the nearest island. His inner scientist finally settling down after his latest ocean adventure.

"What do I do now?" He asked no one in particular.

The Navi was still unconscious. He would of course, help her to get home, but where that could be was anyone's guess. Looking at the peaceful face he couldn't help but imagine Ra'sar making some sarcastic comment about his good luck in finding injured Navi.

Glancing upwards, the sun was starting to set covering the sea with a sheen of red. He would need to make camp here and search for her home in the morning.

He unpacked the tent and attached it to the side of the rotorcraft. Digging in the stakes deep to prevent the storm's ebbing winds from whisking his shelter away in the night.

Finding a tree half buried in the sand, a recent victim of the storm, he attacked it with an axe, taking the smaller branches off with single powerful swings. Collecting the branches into a pile over a lighting block, he took out a small box of matches to start the fire. It might not have been the native way, however he was in no mood to use the temperamental flint and steel.

Gently, he lifted the Navi into the tent and set her down on the camp bed. Taking a blanket out of a compartment on the plane, he draped it over her shoulders before leaving.

Supper wasn't going to catch itself.

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"Sukal" The Navi introduced herself in the morning.

"Harry"

"I thank you, Harri. Without you, the sea would have claimed my life." She reached out and touched Harry's arm. Blood rushed to Harry's cheeks. Could Avatar's blush? Harry was starting to wish he had a mirror.

"Eywa guides us all." His response made Sukal smile shyly.

"You know much of our ways Harri, not many…"

"Demons?" Harry offered, he had heard it often enough. He supposed if he saw aliens that could take human form and were trying to dominate his world, calling them demons wouldn't be a stretch.

Shaking her head, Sukal finished, "Aliens. Not many of the sky-people learn of Eywa. I have heard terrible things from travellers who bring news of the destruction they bring to the forests."

"I wish I could tell you it's all lies, that humans are the great peacekeepers we claim to be." Looking into her eyes, looking for a reaction, he finished. "Sadly, I can't."

"What of you, Harri? Do you seek destruction also?"

"I came to this world for a second chance. Somewhere away from the problems of humanity. Somewhere where I can learn and discover in peace." He raised his hands and looked at his additional finger. It was something so small, meaningless in the grand scheme, yet it would forever represent his difference. His attachment to the humans that ravaged this world. But he was only one man. What could he do?

Thinking back, he could have tried to negotiate with the RDA, perhaps even buy some of the planet to make a sanctuary for the Navi. But that wasn't what they wanted, a gilded prison. All they needed or desired was to be left in peace with Eywa. This was their planet, what right did humans have to take it?

As Harry looked into Sakal's eyes, One thing was clear, his heart now beat for the Navi. Humans had ruined their world. He couldn't and wouldn't sit back and watch history repeat itself.

He would protect them. Protect her.

A silent vow was made between Harry and whatever deities existed. He would dedicate his life to helping the Navi in whatever way he could. Not out of some selfish desire for research material, although that would have been tempting, but as compensation for all the harm his previous species has inflicted to this world and its people.

That vow would define his very existence, now and into the distant future.

And it all started with Sukal.

"Let's take you home."