Return to Pandora:Envoy
This is just a short story I wrote in response to a truly awful Avatar story I read on here. If you like it, I'll tweak it and add chapters to it, but for now I want to concentrate on my main story.
It has been seven and a half Earth years since the RDA attempted to destroy the "tree of Souls" the spiritual heart of Na'vi culture. The U.N and ICA were outraged, RDA were given specific instructions to only use SecOps as security, not as a private army to exterminate the natives. In a display of unseen cohesion and decisiveness the U.N, backed by the ICA declared Pandora a protected world and ordered RDA to pay compensation for their attack. But someone had to go there and tell them the news, that's where I come in, William Freeman, MA in political science, and a diplomat. Back on Earth, I was one of the best & when the time came to chose some one to send to Pandora-back when there were only suspicions about RDA tactics I was one of only ten selected. Eventually, I was the one chosen to go, and that is why I find myself strapped to a cryo chamber feeling like I've just had one hell of a night out.
Groaning, I opened my eyes, at first everything was blurry and the caretakers voice was muffled and distant sounding. 'Are we there?' are my first words, my mind foggy and unaware of the time passed 'yeah, we're there.' Came the reply, in a tone that suggested that I was not the first person to ask such an obvious question. Soon I'm in a shuttle, headed for Hells gate, and before long I'm there, on Pandora. I donned my exopack and exited the shuttle. The welcoming party was mixed, a few Humans, some Avatars and lots of Na'vi. I noticed Dr Patel and offered him my hand 'Will Freeman, U.N, I have an important message for Jake Sully, olo'eyktan of the Omaticaya. 'What kind of message?' he asked me quizzically. Clearing my throat I replied 'I'm sorry Doctor, I'm under strict instructions that I am only to open the file with the prior consent of the clan leader.' 'Well, I'll send one of the avatars to tell him you're here but don't expect an answer for at least a day' I was slightly puzzled by this 'can't the driver just come out of link once he's got an answer?
Max shook his head 'no, you see, all but two of our avatar drivers have had their consciousness transferred to their Avatars. The food and supplies were getting low, and they were getting fully immersed in Na'vi life so they decided to become native full-time.' 'All right then, that's perfect' I say glad at the extra time. 'If it's going to be a day before we can move out that gives us time to decant my Avatar' I continued.
'You have an Avatar?' asked Dr Spellman, a hint of jealousy in his voice. 'Yes, the U.N financed its own Avatar program, though the technology is still RDA. They felt it would be best if the diplomat was an Avatar.' 'Can't argue with that logic' said one of the Avatars. Doctor Max asked her to be the one to take the news to Jake, she nodded and set off.
The next day, my Avatar had been decanted and supplies had been brought in. all that we were waiting for was Jakes' permission to approach the new home tree. This came in the form of the female Avatar landing outside on an Ikran. 'Jake says that you may come & give the message' she said 'but you must agree to being blindfolded' I nodded "of course, I understand' I assented.
"So, how much sim time have you logged?' Max asked, as we entered the link room. 'Oh about 480 hours' I replied 'it was hard, once the U.N heard what happened, it was go-go-go' He scoffed at that "There really is a first time for everything, isn't there?' 'I guess so' I said, grinning. I climbed into a link pod, and the next thing I knew, I was waking up in my Avatar. After a few short tests, we set off to the new Omaticaya home tree. It was a two hour walk but it was worth it when I saw the tree. Massive as it was I knew it was barely half the size of the destroyed Home Tree. The Na'vi were intrigued by my arrival, I was the first new "dreamwalker" in many years and the first to come on explicitly peaceful mission. I was greeted by Jake 'I see you' he greeted me in Na'vi and I responded in kind. 'So, what message do you have for me?' he asked, getting right to the point. I pulled the rolled up vid screen from its' canister and unrolled it, the Omaticaya gathered round to listen as I read it.
'The United Nations special committee on Na'vi rights, having long suspected the Resources Development Administration of wrongdoing on Pandora has come to the following conclusions.' I paused while Jake translated for me 'first, that the Na'vi as indigenous peoples has full rights to their land. And secondly, that the RDA acted illegally in their wanton destruction of Hometree and the brutal attack against the tree of souls. This having come after months of escalating violence and increasing use of security forces as a private army, is the reason for my visit. The Na'vi murmured with excitement when Jake translated that part. Looking around I saw some confused, and some unconvinced faces in the crowd 'for these reasons, the United Nations has made the following decision' I added, putting more emotion into my words, hoping to show just how important what I was about to say was. 'The United Nations has declared Pandora a protected world; there will be no more mining ever, without Na'vi permission. Furthermore, there will never be a military presence on Pandora. When Jake translated that, the Na'vi became very excited, some even let out whoops of joy. Jake had to gesture them to quieten down. 'The United Nations will place a base on a nearby moon to ensure that the RDA abides by the Treaty I am now holding, the penalty for their breaking it will be severe.' I finished, my emotions flowing freely as I had long been angered by what had been happening here. When Jake translated this, the Na'vi became even more ecstatic. Once he had calmed them down Jake turned and asked 'what does this Treaty require to be ratified?' 'Only the signature of every clan leader' I answered. 'There is more to this treaty though' I added. 'What else?' asked Mo'at regarding be suspiciously 'well, RDA got heavily fined for it's actions and part of that was that they replace Doctor Spellman's' Avatar, and provide any humans still on Pandora with their own Avatars. Norm looked thrilled at the prospect of getting a new Avatar 'but....' I added cautiously 'The RDA, were understandably not happy with the situation, but faced with the threat of having their assets confiscated, and their contracts terminated they made a deal. I told them.
Neytiri looked puzzled 'what deal?' she asked me, a touch of anger in her voice 'all the Humans had to be found guilty of Treason against Earth, and stripped of their citizenship, in fact their very Humanity' There were a few gasp at this, clearly the idea of being forced to abandon your very species was shocking to them. 'How do they expect them to stop being Human?' Jake asked 'Eywa' I answered baldly. 'You don't mean?' Norm interjected. 'Yes, the deal is, you have Eywa permanently transfer you to your Avatars, when the Omaticaya think you are ready. 'I shall have to ask the Tsahik for this.' Jake said shaking his head at the audacity of the proposal.
'These sky people and Dreamwalkers helped us in our time of need and have learned much of the Na'vi way.' She replied, a pensive look on her face. 'The battle greatly reduced our numbers; Eywa wishes to replace them and will allow any worthy sky person to join us.' She said looking at me 'and what of you? She asked 'will you return to your world, leaving your Dreamwalker body lifeless?' I swallowed nervously, she gazed at be as though she was reading my mind, I had not expected this question so soon. "I... I no, I ask to be taught the Na'vi way & if You think me ready, I will ask Eywa to transfer me to this body.' I stammered. I was surprised to see she was smiling 'I thought that might be the case' she said cryptically
One week later every Na'vi clan had signed and a copy on it's' way back to earth the Original was kept in a secure location and every tribe kept a copy. On what I reckoned to be Saturday night I sat with Jake, Norm and Max we were discussing the transfer of Max and Norm into their new Avatars which had been grown en-route. 'So Will, why did you volunteer for this mission?' Norm asked. "Truth is, I didn't I was Shanghaied into it.'
'What do you mean?' Jake asked 'Well it was the most furious debate I'd ever been in and I had just given a fiery speech on why we should ratify the treaty and as I'm walking out, the Chair claps his hand on my shoulder and says "we've selected you to be the envoy to Pandora" so, long story short here I am.'
And so began my new life on Pandora, I suppose I have many adventures ahead of me but I shall leave those for another story.