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Disclaimer: Blah, Blah, Blah. I don't own Avatar; James Cameron does. All the Avatar stuff belongs to him. However, my Na'vi character, myself, the Dragon Weyr and its technologies, and the Pandoran animals of my menagerie are all mine. The Protoss - apart from my characters - all belong to Blizzard Entertainment.

Pandora's Templar

A Work-In-Progress Story by Coranth Dehanae

Chapter 28

(Continued from Chapter 27...)

Deeply ashamed and disgusted by what I had witnessed, I turned away from my Lifemate. "Ma Tsa'hik, San'eya, rutxe za'u!" I snapped. At my words - after sparing my Lifemate a disapproving glance - Tsa'hik San'eya swiftly moved into step beside me as, together, we approached the colossal, yet well and truly cowed, form of the Dragon Weyr. "I do not understand, ma Olo'eyktan" the elderly Na'vi said as we walked. "If this nawm fngap tawsìp is Txra'kon We'er, then what of the... the Px'rr'amit; the place where we live?" Since I was still upset at my Lifemate's abhorrent behavior, I didn't respond to the Tsa'hik at first; instead, I continued to wonder about my beloved.

'Why on earth did she do that?' I thought, privately. 'I know she was upset with the Dragon Weyr for what it did, but I'm sure it wasn't intentional; there was no reason for her to rage at the Weyr like that...' When I was pulled from my thoughts as my Clan's Tsa'hik of Eywa repeated her question, I replied, "The Nexus - the great pyramid, where we all live, ma Tsa'hik - is his body. The great ship is his true form - it's his beginning - and where his mind is stored." At my answer, Tsa'hik San'eya nodded thoughtfully... and that's when things got hairy. There came the sound of metal scraping and grinding against metal as the Weyrmind - having caught sight of us with its sensor suites - attempted to flee, a mixture of its fear, sorrow, regret and helplessness filling our thoughts as it moved backwards along the ground without attempting to lift off!

When it reached the end of the clearing - as the great tethers holding it in place began to show signs of strain - I raised my hands slowly to show I was unarmed and had Tsa'hik San'eya do the same, "Hey now, it's all right, my friend, it's all right; we're not going to hurt you" I intoned softly in Khalani. "You know us; we are David Boucher and San'eya te Ayzeyko Nys'ska'ite. By the grace of Adun and Eywa we serve Pandora and her Children. Our choices are their choices. Our morals are their morals. To serve is our duty; verify us." When I finished speaking to the terrified vessel, thankfully, it ceased moving... and then there was silence in the Ihan Forest - not a sound save for our breathing - as Tsa'hik San'eya and I stood still whilst the great ship scanned us thoroughly with its dozens of sensor suites.

Upon confirming who we were the Weyrmind shivered briefly - its relief filling our thoughts - before it unfolded, then gently lifted itself off the forest floor and began to move forwards, toward us; as it did so, Tsa'hik San'eya and I backed away. Once we all had returned to the centre of the clearing, the great Weyrmind hovered there silently before us, filled with uncertainty, until finally I broke the silence by asking, "Why? Why, my friend? Why did you do it? Why did you hurt me like that?" A sense of indecision filled my thoughts as - for a moment - the great vessel twisted this way and that way, debating with itself internally. 'Damn...' I thought, feeling the great ship's turmoil as I observed its actions, 'what could be so bad that the Weyr would refuse to tell me? What the hell's going on?'

Just then, terrible anguish filled my thoughts as finally, the Weyr told me. Through a dialect consisting of telepathic imagery, fictional film pieces, and samples of recorded real and fictional spoken dialog pieced together, the Dragon Weyr revealed that my Na'vi friend's words to me - "I... I knew you would come, Txa'vit. I knew you would come; I knew you would save us. Oel ngati kameie. Nga yawne lu oer, ma yawne." - had been her last; 'They Who Could Not See' had brutalized her so badly that she'd fallen into a Coma. "Oh, no..." I uttered softly, resting my head in my hands. Next to me, Tsa'hik San'eya fell against the Weyrmind, her arms outstretched and hands against its metal skin, as if trying to embrace the great ship.

Raising my head, I just stared at the colossal vessel for a moment, and then finally I asked, "Why didn't you tell me?" At the question, another vision filled my thoughts. "I don't know; I couldn't." Hiccup mumbled to Astrid. "That's not an answer!" I snapped. Again, another film fragment was the vessel's response. "Why is this so important to you all of a sudden?!" Hiccup yelled. "Because I want to help you!" I exclaimed, as the second fragment of 'How to Train Your Dragon' faded from my mind. "Because I'm your friend!" At my exclamation, the Weyrmind let out what seemed to be a disgusted snort via its engines, as yet another dialogue fragment filled my thoughts, from an Anime Series called 'Kingdom Hearts.'

The Jack smiled sardonically. "I do not expect you to understand, since both of you are too wrapped up in your own affairs to care about other people." At this, Tsa'hik San'eya ceased embracing the Weyr and stepped back, her gaze hardening with anger. "You lie!" she snarled. "Olo'eyktan Txa'vit does care for others, deeply; look at all he has done for our Clan and Eywa's Children!" At this, the Weyr replied with a fragment of a film I hadn't seen in years: the Magic Riddle. "But what about me?" the old Widow cried. "There'll be nothing for me!" As the piece of film faded, Tsa'hik San'eya turned to me, an expression of questioning on her face as she said, "Ma Olo'eyktan, I do not understand what Txra'kon We'er is referring to."

She may not have understood, but - at that moment, something broke within me - because I did, now. The Clan and I knew that Txe'lan was, to the Dragon Weyr, what Ieesha was to me: she was the cherished, bonded companion of the Nexus; its friend, Tsa'hik, and Lifemate! The Weyr loved her as I loved Ieesha. During the battle against 'They Who Could Not See', the Weyr had lost its companion, first to those vrrtep bastards and then to severe injury. We'd returned victorious of course but, rather than immediately taking the time to provide counsel to the great construct about its loss and... just talk to it of everything else that had happened, I had neglected the Weyr and had chosen to celebrate with my Clan, instead. All the while, the poor Weyr - not wanting to 'burden' me with any more problems - had suffered in silence...

Until finally, unable to cope with the loss of its companion - devoid of her gentle presence, counsel and love - the poor Weyr had lashed out in temporary insanity brought about by grief. "Oh my god... I'm sorry; I am so sorry..." I uttered, dropping to my knees and leaning forward to press my cheek against the warm, living psi-steel skin of the great vessel. "Damn... I was so concerned with celebrating our victory that I forgot about you, my oldest friend. Still, you should have told me about this, immediately! I ask again: Why didn't you?" Yet another fragment filled my thoughts, this time from one of the 'Harry Potter' films. As she stood there, facing Professor McGonagall - her eyes wet and face streaked with tears - Hermione Granger answered, "I... I thought I could handle it..."

"Bullshit!" I responded, pulling back to gaze solemnly at the Weyrmind as I placed a warm hand where my cheek had previously been. "You'd never been through something like this before... and until Ieesha died, neither had I! When Ieesha died it... it was like half my soul had been torn out of me. You were there; you saw what happened. There were days when I just wanted to die..." Upon hearing this, behind me, Ieesha whimpered softly; I took no notice, however, as I continued, "If I couldn't handle Ieesha's death, what makes you think you could have handled Txe'lan's coma? Hmm? How could you have handled that loss - that horrible, soul-deep agony, eating away at you - all on your own? Txe'lan was - is - your First Bound, so the answer is: you couldn't!"

At this, the Weyrmind actually landed, its lights dimming completely, and there upon the Ihan Forest floor it stayed, appearing as a dead vessel - the very epitome of dejected - as its acknowledgement filled our thoughts. "Fortunately for us both" I continued, "Ieesha wasn't really dead, and neither is Txe'lan..." At my words, the Weyr lifted off again and 'nodded', its lights brightening once more to full power as a feeling of hope and then a mixture of forgiveness and pleading filled our thoughts_._ "I know what you're asking for, my friend, and you'll have it," I replied. Then, inhaling a deep, shuddering breath, I intoned, "I forgive you. I forgive you..." Upon hearing my words, the Weyrmind relaxed, lowering itself to nestle against us, its lights dimming to half-power as its relief filled our thoughts.

Much of the misery we all felt eased somewhat as our spirits were buoyed by the great ship's display; however, our business with the Dragon Weyr wasn't concluded, not by a long shot. This was evident when Tsa'hik San'eya chose to speak. "Ngaytxoa, Sempul Txra'kon We'er; I must also apologize to you, for not seeing your pain when I should have, and also for not providing counsel in Txe'lan's stead" she said, quietly. Then, gazing at the mighty vessel with firm resolve, she continued. "This will not happen again! From now on, I shall reexamine my duties as Tsa'hik. I shall play a greater role here, by providing guidance and counsel to all of our Children--" and here, she turned to acknowledge Ieesha and I before returning her gaze to the Weyrmind, "--when Tsa'hik Txe'lan is not present to do so!"

At her words, the Weyrmind 'nodded' to her - it briefly dipped and then righted itself, its forgiveness and thanks filling her thoughts - as Ieesha and I also acknowledged and welcomed what she'd said. ~My thanks, ma Tsa'hik~ my beloved said softly. Then, disregarding the order I'd given her - I had intended to release her from it anyway - Ieesha moved over to us and lay down, curling herself around San'eya and I in order to tuck us beneath her wings. Once we were comfortably warm, my beautiful Pandoran Ikranessgazed sadly at the Weyrmind - a weary sigh escaping her - before she said, ~I'm sorry, too. I... I didn't mean to... to unload on you like that, but you hurt my David so badly; I thought... I thought...~

Deeply connected to her via the bond we shared, I was able to finish her words silently in my head - I thought he was going to die - but for Ieesha, the words ended in a choked sob as she began to cry, silently, her midnight-blue eyes misting over with tears. The sight of my beloved crying caused my heart to wrench painfully within my chest, for it was horrible to see her sadness... and yet, the sight was beautiful. Her face didn't become red and blotchy like a human's and her eyes didn't puff up. Instead, her silvery, crystalline tears just fell slowly from her eyes, ran down her face, and then dripped off to fall to the Ihan Forest floor like raindrops. Wanting to soothe and comfort her, I gently guided her head close to my body in order to hold her as best I could, despite our vast differences in size.

San'eya, too, offered comfort to my beloved; she softly caressed and stroked as much of Ieesha's body as she could reach. I can't recall how long we stayed there on the ground - it could have been moments, or it could have been hours - but as we stayed there, comforting her, through the warmth of the mental bond we shared, an overwhelming feeling of gratitude weaved its way into my mind. Finally, when Ieesha stopped crying, with a part of my Templar Robe, I gently wiped away her tears, before quietly asking her, "Are you okay, now?" For a moment, Ieesha said nothing - she just lay there, resting her great head in my lap as she looked up at me, blinking occasionally - but then, finally, she answered, ~No, sweet David... but I will be.~

Giving her a smile, I nodded to her in acknowledgement, and then - turning my attention to the Weyrmind, I stated, "Okay, so Txe'lan's in a Coma. We know this. Question is: what can we do about it?" When I began to speak to the Weyr, Ieesha and San'eya began to listen attentively, but for the moment I paid no attention to them as I continued, "You... this is something you should be able to fix, isn't it? With your Autodoc and Nanocytes, it should be a snap, right?" Immediately, the Weyrmind turned left then right - the gesture for 'no' - and then... From where he worked down in Engineering, Scotty yelled through the ship's Comm., "I just can't do it, Captain; I don't have the power!" As the film fragment faded from my thoughts, I looked at the Weyrmind in surprise. "Why? What do you mean?" I asked.

The great vessel's frustration filled my thoughts, then, along with a fragment of the game 'Mass Effect Two'... The Geth Platform designated Legion stared stoically at Commander Sheppard for a moment with its single, white-glowing eye, before it finally replied, "No data available." As the fragment faded, I heaved a weary sigh. "Are you telling me you don't have enough knowledge of how the Na'vi brain functions to effect repairs?" A mixture of affirmation and negation filled my thoughts. "Yes and no..." I murmured. "Okay... so you have basic knowledge of how a Na'vi brain works, but whatever they did to her is beyond your knowledge and ability to heal her?" My guess was dead accurate; immediately the Weyrmind dipped and then righted itself, performing the gesture for 'yes' as its frustration and worry filled my thoughts.

'Damn it' I cursed, privately, 'it's just going to be one of those days again...' Then, turning to my two companions, I asked, "Ideas, anyone?" At my question, Ieesha sadly shook her head, her despair filling mythoughts as she answered ~The Na'vi brain isn't something we've studied before, sweet David--because we've never needed to! The brain of a Na'vi is vastly different to that of a human, and we've never encountered a patient afflicted with such severe brain damage that said damage would render them comatose. I... I could begin a study of the Na'vi brain and how it functions...~ At this, Tsa'hik San'eya replied "A good thing to be sure, ma Olo' Sa'nok, but we don't know how much time we have; for all we know Olo' 'Ite Txe'lan's might be what you call 'brain dead'; only her body may live, sustained by the fngap toktor..."

When San'eya spoke, however, all three of us were hit with a huge blast of NEGATION from the Weyrmind. As the emotion filled our thoughts, San'eya winced and clutched her head in pain whilst Ieesha whined softly, folding a wing over her head. I simply sat through it, resting my aching head in my hands. Once the horrible emotion faded, however, I groaned softly before responding, "Okay, so Txe'lan obviously isn't brain-dead..." When the Weyr's affirmation filled our thoughts - after gingerly raising my head - I stared intently at San'eya for a moment before asking "Ma Tsa'hik, do you know of any medicinal techniques or herbal remedies that one might use to aid a patient in Txe'lan's condition?"

Even as I asked the question, however, almost immediately I knew it was a futile gesture; Tsa'hik San'eya slowly shook her head, her weathered face becoming creased with deep sadness as she replied, "Kehe, ma Olo'eyktan, I do not. Brain injury is an exceedingly rare thing; it simply does not happen. Before you came, we considered such injuries to be fatal; those afflicted with such injuries were... returned to Eywa." At this, she heaved a weary sigh, before she continued_, "the fact that Txe'lan still lives - even if her life is merely being sustained by the fngap toktor - is a miracle , Txa'vit. But, alas, I cannot help you..."_ Lapsing into silence, she thought for a moment... and then, suddenly, her expression brightened as she said, " I cannot help Txe'lan... but I do know of someone who might be able to help."

Immediately, Ieesha and I turned to look at each other; we both knew whom San'eya was referring to. "Eywa!" we chorused, together. At this, my Clan's Tsa'hik of Eywa smiled. "Srane," she replied, "Eywa. She might be able to heal our Olo' 'Ite of her brain injury and help her awaken from her ngim hahaw; what you call a Kx'o'ma. We will have to take her immediately to Vitrautral..." Upon hearing the elderly Tsa'hik's words, my beloved Ikraness immediately protested - baring her teeth in a quiet snarl, her ears flattening against her head - as I raised a hand, politely requesting immediate silence! "Whoa" I responded once San'eya became quiet, "back up here for a minute! Vitrautral, the Tree of Souls? No way; that'll be a logistical nightmare.

Plus, we'd have to travel through Omatikaya territory, and you know what they think of me! Unlike you and the rest of Tawkami ma Tsa'hik, Mo'at, Jake, Neytiri and the rest of the Omatikaya despise me -- not because I have done them wrong, but because I am Tawtute! It's... they just can't seem to... get over what the RDA did to them so long ago. You're suggesting that we bring my friend Txe'lan through Omatikaya Clan territory to the Tree of Souls when we don't know for certain that Eywa can help her? Uh, uh; it's not happening! I'm not willing to risk war with the Omatikaya - or, more importantly, the life of my friend - to place my hopes for Txe'lan's recovery on the whims of a... a planetary sentience that you believe to be a Goddess! For all we know, Eywa might choose not to help her at all!"

As the final statement left my lips, Tsa'hik San'eya dropped her head into her hands, a weary sigh escaping her. Then, a moment later, she raised her head again to look at me, the expression upon her face stricken. "What, then, are we to do, ma Olo'eyktan?" she asked, her voice filled with pleading. "You have heard what we have to say. Txra'kon We'er and your yawne Iee'zha cannot save our Olo' 'Ite Txe'lan because they lack the power and knowledge to do so. I cannot help, for I know of no medicines that will aid her. Please, we must journey to the Tree of Souls; it is the only way!" Deep in my heart, I knew that what she said was true; the only hope Txe'lan had of recovery was, indeed, Eywa - but even after all this time, and even after all I'd seen here on Pandora of her presence - some part of me still doubted her supposed divinity.

'Ah, ever the skeptic...' I thought to myself privately, allowing a smile to briefly cross my face. Said smile soon became a frown, however, for Eywa wasn't the only problem I faced. There was also the matter of the Omatikaya. I'd first encountered that Clan of Na'vi - led by the Avatar Jake Sully and his yawne Neytiri - some three years ago, when I'd had to pass through their territory in search of an Ikran who'd argued with a Toruk and lost. Effectively, the Omatikaya had utterly despised me on sight. I had done them no wrong - on the contrary, I had always been cordial upon encountering lone members of said Clan during my Veterinary Missions, and had done my best to provide aid to them when needed, but still...

Even after I had explained my reasons for needing to pass through their territory, their collective attitude to my presence there hadn't been at all pleasant; spurred by the strong anti-human sentiments of their Olo'eyktan - the former human marine Jake Sully - it had ranged from cold and civil at best, to outright frosty at worst. In fact, now that I look back on it, I believe that the only reason the people of the Omatikaya hadn't attacked me on sight was because I'd had Sa'nok, Falkor, and Miracle with me at the time. Pulling myself away from these thoughts and back into reality, I sighed, running a_hand wearily_down my_face_before I finally replied, "Alright, alright! We'll take Txe'lan to the Tree of Souls..." As the Weyrmind, Ieesha and San'eya rejoiced at this statement, privately, I thought, 'Damn it... this is going to be such a mess...'