78. Eywa's Surpise

At the top of an island born of a long-dead volcano within the main chamber of a house, the owner and master of the place violently woke up, his specimen implant banishing the darkness such was the intensity of its light.

"What the fuck is happening…?", Liam mumbled his eyes wide awake, body tensed up, his breathing heavy as his head instinctively turned toward the area where he planted the Tree of Souls which translated to him looking down at the corner of his room's left wall rather intensely.

The empathetic bond was enhanced to new heights as the Psionic blast that awakened him turned into a constant stream of emotion, all in a similar spectrum, it was an immense amount of joy, excitement, and anticipation from his other half, Eywa.

It was overflowing but not overwhelming yet it still affected him greatly, creating a sort of feedback loop, it was getting closer to those times when they simply embraced after he drugged himself unconscious to be able to speak to her and be with her.

A meeting that had become a hard task to do as the venom of his slinger, a compound in it more precisely had lost most of its effect on him and no other chemical had a similar result or at least one of equal potency and clearness for those special face to face that if not for the lack of a physical body would have evolved into something more…

Physical and not one-sided for who could touch who. The All-Mother wasn't exactly shy about taking very ample acquaintance of his body every millimeter when he was unconscious or not for that matter, not that he complained.

This problem leading to the rarefaction of those meetings was aside from his timetable due to his biology, his body built tolerances to toxins and other foreign chemicals at an exponentially faster rate than any regular organism did. Normally it would be excellent news but for this, not really. He was suffering from how good his adaptability was.

But the one who suffered the most was Daisy, his slinger and the head of the strange animal in particular, at the end of the day as it was it who was the one who produced the venom.

The head could alter the concentration of the venom compounds such that the one that could let him enter that dream-like state was the one that exhausted his slinger the most when produced.

He knew why it was the case, Eywa told him, that it was positively charged with Psionic at least that is what her cryptic words mean in their essence.

This act was very taxing for the slinger as well. The compound wasn't made for this specifically, the task of communing with the All-Mother; its purpose was to put the envenomed target in a type of sleep beyond the physical body to a degree, and this facet of the venom was what led to everything being possible, to begin with.

It was a very rough start of a relationship between them but he guesses there wasn't that much other option than this with how paranoid and jumpy he was at the time.

She didn't have any other option but to speak to him and understand him, he was an alien being having popped up in existence in her garden, he forgave her acts but didn't forget.

"Is that the surprise you have been talking about?", he asked himself more than anything.

An excited, almost childlike smile grew on his face as he stood up to his full height of 2.45 meters (~8ft) from his bed, his body having left a deep mark due to its sheer mass but the mattress rapidly shifted back to its original form.

The 'surprise' was what Eywa had been refusing to reveal to him for more information for seven years, not for his fault of not having tried at several points to know what it was, all playful and in good sport, of course. It wasn't some grand mystery that would lead him to lose his mind.

But he wasn't witless, it was related to the Tree of Souls he planted what was going right now and only confirmed it. But those trees were an enigma so what was going without doing deeper and invasive reception that might have negative effects was the only way to solve this mystery so he decided to stay in the unknown.

And the 'surprise' was related, at the very least partially, to the problem of communication between them aside from emotions. Something had been brewing within the roots of the tree, this part of the tree being the point of origin of the Psionic blast only affirming that it wasn't just the result tree growing weirdly for no reason. Which he was sure wasn't to begin with but you never know.

Not bothering to dawn on his armor he walked with a brisk pace straight out of his room, passing by Miles' room which was no different than any others as such it was filled with unfiltered and unpressurized air from Pandora.

It didn't need to be made for human life, it meant that Miles wouldn't be able to live in it but that wasn't a problem. Two years ago when he adopted the boy and took him under his wing he redesigned his entire house for it to have a system letting him filter and pressurize the air by his will, the doors having been modified too.

This functionality was only of use for particular occasions, occasions that were for when Miles was here. Usually, his son would be sleeping in his room at Hell's Gate with Cupla or with Kiri at Grace and Tsu'tey's home, it wasn't that Liam wanted this situation, it was that it was the best option available for the two of them.

Neither of them could have all they wanted.

Miles couldn't stay year long on the island, there was school and he needed to interact with others adding that he was eight years old. His tames wouldn't be enough and the boy had friends, it would be cruel to separate them. And the main reason, Liam was oh so very busy, working constantly at standard beyond what was safe and sane for humans and even for him.

But he didn't crack, he couldn't, he didn't have the right to.

That didn't mean he couldn't spare time but his daily life was full, sometimes he was on other moons, or in space helping in the mining operations for materials of all kinds, or alone cultivating and harvesting Element. A process that needed extreme care and couldn't be risked to be automated.

Or working on Tekgram during the travels, testing technology or training, or a plethora of other aspects that took his time. At least infighting has ceased, at least the one that was grave between humans or between humans and Na'vi. It wasn't perfect and won't be for many generations to come but it was infinitely better than the first year after the RDA was evicted from Pandora.

When he was on Pandora he had very little time as well and it was used mostly for building his Tek Replicator which was not yet finished. One ring remained to be completed and a few parts for the powerful machine core were to be built or fine-tuned.

All of it was complicated, unpleasant but it was life, sacrifice needed to be made and the boy understood this, he didn't tell Miles what he was precisely doing only that it was for them to live happily. Being a Father, even not a biological lm to a human boy was not an easy task but one he was delighted to have.

The free time he had was spent largely with Miles when the boy had free times such as the allocated vacation and it was in person. Otherwise, he spoke to his son nearly every day even if it was not face-to-face, they didn't lack interactions. It felt great and was another great motivator, beyond that of his survival.

'Everyone is awake…', he noted, all of his tames, even Gladius and Aegis in the sea below, were wide awake, it didn't matter the distance as Cupla at Hell's Gate had awakened, almost waking up Miles whose body was entangled in his hammock that served as a bed.

The empathetic bond didn't spill over to the links with his tames directly but it affected him and as such made him experience a similar feeling to Eywa as such it was inevitably shared with the ones linked to him. And it had such a strong reaction because usually, he wasn't this way, at least not out of nowhere and this early in the morning.

Mentally commanding the large glass window of his room it started to slide to the left and the fresh air of the night entered his room, not waiting for it to be fully open before passing through the opening. He jumped down the six-meter void before the ground, all the while fully appreciating the air brushing against his upper body, hair, and beard.

Landing on the large stone he felt the shock of his weight with that of the energy brought by his fall in his leg which was enough to crush an average man to a bloody pulp without much of a reaction.

'It was a beat. A beat of a heart the first of many…', he thought, realization dawning upon him as his smile enlarged with the flow of emotion amplified as the second blast was emitted.

This one was weaker as it washed over the island which lit up in its entirety as if a wave had passed reality and it continued beyond. It could be seen from outer space that he knew with the many satellites he put in orbit. It was akin to a giant and infinitely complex spider web that pulsed an intense blue-pinkish light with his island at the epicenter.

Then as his heart beat another wave washed over him then another in rhythm with his heartbeat, the following one stabilizing into their power not going lower or higher.

The first blast was the first best of a heart residing within the Tree of Souls.

His four tetrapterons landed on branches around him as they gazed upon the general location of the Tree of Souls, the questioning caw of his great austrapede walking to his right prompting Liam to speak to diffuse their confusion.

"It's not a danger or an attack… Do not worry and lay to the side. You can observe but do not intervene unless I order so. Understood?", he warned his tames present on the island via a dual message by voice through their links and what he got in response was utmost acknowledgment of his words.

"Good, bonus snacks would be given to the ones who heed my words.", he nodded and proceeded on with a brisk pace, the feeling of the moist grass of night, flowing water, and smoothened gravel below the sole of his bare foot accompanied all of his steps.

He arrived at his destination in a few short dozen seconds and his silver iris dilated at the surreal sight, the clearing from where the Tree of Soul grew was a constellation of bioluminescent light.

Those lights formed a kaleidoscope that pulsed to his and Eywa heart beats it originated from a singular spot within the Tree of Souls roots as it spread in complex chaotic and natural patterns to the grass, trees, flowers, mycelium, vines, and other organisms of all shape and size from arthropod to the fishes in the rivers born out of the water cave.

Each of his steps created a counter pulse which melted into the ones originating from the flora and fauna. This continued until he stopped moving a few meters away from the tree, he stayed here in awe at the sheer magnificence of the scene, and then white glowing furry tendrils grew from the closest roots toward him.

Noticing this he put himself slowly on one knee and dipped his left hand in the crystalline water he remarked that it was warmer than usual by a few degrees Celsius.

The filaments reached his fingers and with quickness climbed up his hand to his implant and after a prickling sensation was felt his eyes closed but he continued to see and he saw so much more.

He felt the breath of life on the island, from the heart beating with his own in the tree's root but that wasn't all, it goes far beyond in the reefs below and more. All following a rhythm that was his.

It was mind-blowing but the most intense part was the raw emotions. It felt good, great even, he felt accepted, cared for, and loved which were reciprocated by him for her. Saying it was addicting for the both of them to be in such a tie would not be far from the truth.

But he was in full control and as such when a few minutes later he received a call from the bracelet around his right wrist he had when he didn't have his armor he answered.

"Yes Grace, what is the matter?", he spoke, his voice dripping with the emotions he was feeling making him sound almost as if he was high due to having overdosed on drugs but still articulated. It was a strange mix, and there was a slight grumpiness as well.

"I was with my mate at the Omatikya when Kiri had a seizure and then kept babbling about you and Eywa we had to put her to sleep, Mo'at had a coma then woke up and spoke about the same things, Neytiri is speaking-", distress was clear for him to hear which as she continued he waited for her to tool a breather.

"Calm down Grace, there is nothing to worry about, nothing that will affect anyone negatively, Kiri is fine, right? This concerns me and Eywa alone, your daughter and Mo'at and her daughter are correct as well. It's related to the two of us.", he stated calmly, the dreamy nature presently added to his deep bass voice a stark contrast to the seriousness of the situation.

"I'm sorry to have hmm be slightly out of touch, it's fucking bizarre! All of this, you're insane frankly! But I will trust ya on that one. Not like it will go any other way right, Liam?", Grace said with mild exhaustion and relief, the fact he was calm helped her greatly to settle down and after that, both said goodbye and ended the call.

But the time of peace after was short-lived as his giant armored shark who was swimming far up in the deep sea noticed several dozen of massive tapered bodies moving toward the island. With this information, Liam observed the location from outer space with the help of a satellite telescope and a heavy frown appeared on his face.

"Tulkuns and the reef Na'vi… Their Tsahìks and those whales must feel the Psionic.", Liam muttered, It was to be expected after the Psionic blast, Mo'at felt it and she was farther away and he was sure it wouldn't be the only impromptu visit he was going to have for the following day or weeks.

He will see if curiosity kills the cats, he isn't going to let everyone go up here that he was certain. It was his place no matter what others might say or feel, it didn't matter if some of the most extreme and xenophobic Na'vi felt it was a sacred place and he shouldn't be here then that would be their problem.

At worst, what are they going to do? Speak loudly in outrage and not do anything. His island was far from defenseless with him on it or not. However he wasn't going to underestimate anyone or be aggressive for no reason, that didn't mean he was going to be passive.

"But at their speed of travel, they won't be here in at least two good hours… That's better than anything I guess.", he said, he didn't deem it worth it to order Aegis to slow them down as from Eywa he knew the tulkuns' capabilities and they would be able to tell the strangeness about his nalutsa with but one glance and that it was connected to him as well.

His focus switched back to the Tree of Souls, his heart beating faster and faster as excitement rose and the light of the island did the same, then the tapestry of bioluminescence amplified to a point where the entire area was lit.

The flow of Psionic suddenly ceased outside of his bond seemingly getting sucked back into the Tree of Souls. Then his eyes widened as down before him in the hermetically sealed knots of root underwater three feminine fingers of a soft pale bluish purple skin ending in wickedly sharp obsidian black claws tore through its pure white bark from the inside to the outside.

He knew who this thing was, no, who she was, or a fragment of her in physical form and his joy reached an unprecedented level as three other similar fingers of another hand tore through the bark as if what was inside was trying to escape a prison.

*

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