~~~Superstes~~~UNDERGOING MAJOR EDITING

Awa'atlu gathering P 2.

"What?" The demon asked grumpily.

The dark-haired man repeated his observation. "This one has three fingers. Unlike Jake Sully's other children. But I've only seen a few of them--this probably doesn't mean anything."

Quaritch moved his lips in a circular motion and stepped closer to the glass, studying Neteyam in a way that caused his skin to crawl. He tapped the glass where Neteyam's hand was planted, smirking at him smugly. Neteyam launched himself at the wall and hissed at the man from deep within his throat, baring all his teeth and fangs.

Suddenly, Quaritch's mocking sneer vanished and he stumbled back, his ears flattening and his jaw going slack. After a second, he recomposed himself and lifted his chin pridefully. 

"Nah. He's just the spittin' image of that animal." Quaritch shifted on his feet, putting the majority of his weight on his right leg. "Seems like he intertied her... wildness." 

"Where is my sister?" Neteyam demanded again, narrowing his eyes. He snarled at the men outside of the walls again and slapped the glass, anger oozing out of him like a waterfall.

Quaritch chuckled dangerously. Just the sight of him made Neteyam's blood boil with rage. "Yeah, he's definitely Sully's. Doesn't know when to quit."

He elbowed the glass before he strode towards the door, jerking it open carelessly. Quaritch stalked towards Neteyam and grabbed his arm, digging his nails into the muscle of his bicep. As Quaritch began to drag him out of the room, Neteyam frantically glanced at his brother and Fe'ya. No matter how ashamed he was to show weakness, a small cry escaped him. He didn't want to leave them. 

The scientist continued to work on the glowing screen, paying to mind to Neteyam as he was hauled around the corridor. Once Quaritch stopped walking, he shoved Neteyam to the floor with a force that made him bounce across the tiles. Neteyam yelped, hastily scooting away from him, but he only chuckles. "You won't fight for yourself, will you? Why not?"  

Neteyam panted. Each breath he took the more it burned like fire. But he scowled and kicked Quaritch in the jaw with his foot, his leg launching in the air. 

Quaritch cried out and grabbed Neteyam's shoulders, pulling the fifteen-year-old back towards him, before he tapped Neteyam's chest lightly. "Now, what's this?" without hesitation, he gripped the wrapping and ripped it off, tossing it into a heap on the floor. Underneath was a long, ragged, ugly risen scar that was lined with old stitches. Neteyam inhaled deeply--he'd never seen the aftermath of the surgery or the bullet. 

Quaritch cocked his head. "They had to operate, I guess. Which means--" he takes Neteyam's chin and holds it, directing his gaze to only focus on him. "You almost died. What a shame you didn't." 

Neteyam spat in his face, pushed it away and squirmed out of his grip.

Quaritch growled and grabbed Neteyam's leg as he was scrambling to escape. He must have had something sharp in his hand, a knife maybe, but the blade scrapes across Neteyam's thigh and created a long, bleeding laceration across his skin. He screamed and yanked his leg away. 

"Actions have consequences, kid. You better learn that fast, or up in here, you'll be tormented." 

Neteyam was dragged back to the room and thrown inside before he could run out the door. He wanted to cry, but not there, not today. Unexpectedly, long, slender arms pulled him into a tender hug. 

"Brother," Kiri breathed, "I'm so happy to see you."

                                                                                          ~~~

Jake's mind reeled with questions as he tried brainstorming solutions and rescue missions, worry, fear, hut-wrenching sadness, all forming one bug grey blur in his brain to where he couldn't come up with anything. He sat in the marui, twiddling his thumb. Neytiri sat next to him, both of them in a tense silence. 

"We will get them back, Neytiri." Jake uttered eventually. "I promise."

The woman sighed softly, turning her head away. He saw the sadness pool in her eyes, her tears glittering like glowing stars in the night. "When I find this demon," she growls, a waver in her voice, "I am going to tear into his throat with my own teeth."

Jake understood. He really did. When he got to Quaritch, he was going to make his most painful memory his last. "I don't understand, Neytiri--I killed him. I watched his body sink beneath the ship."

Neytiri shook his head. "I do not know, either. But I know that we were going to save our children and kill the rest."