Chapter 8: First Day on Pandora

He opened his eyes to see that dull gray ceiling, lit by that familiar bluish light. He soon remembered it as he felt his body still frozen and just beginning to warm up.

Finally, a click was felt and soon this dull, bluish wall disappeared, revealing people in medical uniforms floating towards the various chambers opening.

He blinked, retreating to yawn. Cryogenic sleep was not really restful and he was feeling the effect.

A staff member walked up to him and asked questions while inspecting his pulse and other health and other parameters. The former soldier nodded his head without really listening. His head was still sore from the long dreamless sleep. Before going to his things, he could not help but float to a window, admiring their destination standing before them. A blue and seemingly full of life planet faced their ship, as if to invite them to come.

Pandora... At last! The soldier could see that it looked a lot like the Earth. At least, the old Earth because the new one looked more like a dump than a planet. He couldn't wait to explore the wilderness that made this planet famous.

He went to his locker and took his things. The man rubbed his eyes to avoid falling asleep. The five years and nine months of sleeping in complete darkness were decidedly not working for him. He hoped to make it through the first day, especially since it would be heavy with all the presentations and instructions to listen to. The soldier sighed as he thought back on his hard work. At least he will be rewarded for his efforts. At least he hoped.

Floating towards the exit leading to the Valkyrie, he could not help but worry about his sister. It was thanks to her that he was able to enter the program, escaping from a military post he wanted to avoid at all costs. He found a seat, put on his seat belt and put on his oxygen mask, not listening to the officer's instructions, already knowing the procedure to follow. Then, once he was sure everything was working properly, he sank into his thoughts. Even the jolts of the takeoff did not take him out of his daydreams.

He didn't hear the sound of the aircraft landing, despite the deafening noise of the engines. Finally, the shaking indicating the landing of the aircraft woke him up.

He hurried to get up, his backpack on his shoulder and followed a group trotting under the officer's screams. He looked around him, scrutinizing the base of Hell. It was clear that the base was very active if we were to rely on the numerous comings and goings of supply vehicles, MPAs and soldiers.

Soldier: Hey dreamer! Hurry up! We don't have to wait for you.

The soldier smiled, then took the same path as his group towards the interior of the base. He went into what could be a briefing room when a voice alerted him.

Sted: Here! Look who it is!

Ben, turning around: Sted, Dyle, Gäel? What are you doing here?

Sted: Did you think we were going to stay on Earth with our pay when he offered double or even triple it here?

Ben rolled his eyes at this answer.

Ben: Of course.

Gäel: I can't wait to try out my new toys.

Ben: I'm not surprised that you say that, Gäel, strangely.

Dyle: Here we are! We're going to be a team like in the good old days! Actually, Ben, what are you assigned to? I bet in the air force since you love to fly even though you're a real Swiss Army knife! Come on... Flying a Scorpio?

Ben: No. I'm flying something very special.

Sted: What? A Dragon?

Ben: No more.

Gaël: A Samson?

Ben: Missed again.

Sted : Don't tell me...

Ben: Yes

The three looked at him with astonished eyes, not expecting such a job for their friend.

Dyle: Is that a joke?

Ben: No, I'm serious.

Dyle: What would you do in this program? You're military, I'll call you back! Not a scientist. You could be anywhere! Why would I do that?

Ben: I have my reasons.

Sted: You're not going to tell us, are you?

Ben: No. It's personal

The three sighed, defeated. They knew in advance that they would get nothing out of him.

Sted, shrugging his shoulders: Well, maybe we'll find out one day. Well, let's take a seat. I don't want to be in the front row.

Ben: Why not? Are you afraid of being scolded?

Sted: No. It's just that I wouldn't like to be used as an example if we have to do first aid exercises.

The three approved. They came in and sat in the fourth row. A moment later, a man entered. He must have been in his sixties, but he was well preserved for his age, judging by his muscles. A scar resembling a scratch adorned his face on the right side.

Male: You're not in Kansas anymore. You're on Pandora, ladies and gentlemen. That's a fact you have to consider every second of every day. Outside of this compound, every living creature, whether it's flying, crawling, or rotting in the mud, will want to kill you, and gouge your eyes out. We are dealing with...

Ben picked up the phone and fell asleep with his eyes open. It was a pat on the elbow from Dyle that woke him up later at the end of the conference.

Ben: Oh, what? What? It's over?

Dyle: Yes. Don't tell me you were asleep just now?

Ben, blush: Of course I wasn't.

Sted: Ben, you're not serious? Don't tell me you took a nap while Quaritch was quoting the safety rules to us?

Ben: What? I had to catch up on five years of sleep! Cryonics doesn't rest!

Dyle and Gäel laughed while Sted sighed and

Sted:Damn it! Only you can fall asleep at a safety conference!

stretched: Well... I will have to go there myself. Because it's not all that but I have my Avatar to go see.

Ben walked the corridors, looking for the laboratory. He followed one handicapped person and another, who seemed to be excited.

Ben thought: These two look like strange machines. Good, I am going to follow them. After all... What do I have to lose?

He wanted to follow the two individius but both have already disappeared, leaving Ben a little annoyed. Where could they have gone?

Ben: My day is starting well! Well, I just have to find my way alone.

After a long time going around in circles, he finally managed to find a room that looked like some kind of laboratory. He found the two strangers accompanied by another wearing glasses. He had a neat beard and brown hair. His white blouse indicated his role as a scentist and he was talking with the excited boy he observed. Although he seemed gifted, his face showed a certain clumsiness or naivety, reinforced by his eyes. Ben recognized Norman Spellman, having often heard of him in his training. He sighed inwardly, recalling bad memories of scientists mocking him because of his military background. He was happy to have shut them up when he was admitted to join Pandora because of his work of learning about the people, fauna and flora of the sattelite.

Norm: It won't help you go crazy! He entered the room, knocking to signal his presence.

Ben: Excuse me, is this the laboratory?

Norm: Yes, this is the place.

The man entered the room, observing the surroundings with an observant look and already noticed an open video diary, already hinting at a report to be made. In short, this was not the time to show disagreement, especially over something he had been warned about before coming. It was up to him to manage to ractuate only the essentials. Finally, he left his thoughts and nodded his head to his interlocutors.

Ben: Forgive me, I forgot the introductions. My name is Thalyen Ben, former soldier. To whom am I speaking?

Norm: Dr. Norman Spelman. Are you French?

Well, a little surprised: Uh...Indeed. Why is that?

Norm: Because of your accent.

Ben: Ah...

Then the soldier turned to his wounded colleague and offered him his hand. The latter hastened to squeeze although he was suspicious.

Jake: Jake Sully.

Ben: Sorry about your legs, Corporal. He then turned to Max, ignoring the dark look in the sailor's eyes, who didn't like being reminded of his infirmity.

Max, shaking her hand: Max Patel

Ben: Do you take care of the avatars here?

He was a little surprised by the suddenness of the question.

Max: Uh...Yes

Ben: Can I see my avatar? Well, if it's ready.

Max: Of course! Yours is in another room not far from here. Please follow me.

With these words, he followed Max with his two new companions. Finally, they arrived at another room, resembling an infirmary, judging by the various medical tools and the amiotanks on the empty side. One in the middle was occupied by a strange sky-blue figure. He resembled Ben, even in stature despite the natural thinness of the Na'vis.

The individual's pilot stepped forward to the tank Max had indicated to him and observed the contents of a scrutinizing air.

Norm: What do you think about it? It's great, isn't it?

Ben: It's mostly... strange.

Already, he wasn't physically thirty-five years old, but thirty. But now it was worse! The avatar had barely twenty years of face!

Max: I'm going to introduce you to your logbook now, Ben. Feel free to express your feelings or observations as the days go by.

Ben: For research, I guess?

Max: I guess so. Then we'll visit Grace. She'll be logging off soon.

Norm: Grace? Grace? Grace Augustine ?

Jake: Who's that?

Ben: The director of the program. And if you don't mind, I'm going to stay here. It's been three years since I was considered a fool so my cup is full. And since she thinks the military is just a bunch of brainless bullies, I might cause a scandal.

Max: Whatever.

Ben: I wish you good luck in advance Jake. You'll need it.

Jake: Thank you.

The pilot came out of the room and started a cigarette. Then he delivered a melancholy look in front of a pipe, thinking again of his sister and daughter he left on Earth. He hoped that everything was going well.