~~~Superstes~~~UNDERGOING MAJOR EDITING

Operation: Kids.

But then, someone was yanking on the cage. Neteyam didn't bother lifting his head to see who it was--he released a low, deep growl from down in his chest. But through the muzzle the sound was more like a pathetic vibration. He closed his eyes and tucked his head against his chest, his ears pinning to his skull.  

"Neteyam--it's me, boy. It's your father."

Neteyam's eyes shot open, and he peeked over, only to find his dad tugging and pulling on the metal bars. But Jake was looking at him, desperation filling his eyes. Neteyam's face contorted into a cry, but he made no sound. Instead, he opened his mouth and took a deep breath, his throat feeling tight. He couldn't speak with the stupid muzzle. But looks were enough.

"Dang it! I can't open this cage." Jake searched desperately for a way to break it down. "Just hold on, boy--" he stopped, his bulky frame freezing completely. "Neteyam, show me your arm." 

Neteyam made a choked sound and attempted to show his father his mangled arm. It looked awful, and he refused to pay attention to it. Jake paled at the sight and his movements grew quicker, filled with more determination, more willpower. "Okay--just hang tight, kid. I'm coming." 

"MaJake!"

Quicker than a flash of lightening, Jake was knocked down in the head by Quaritch. He stumbled to the side, taken by complete surprise. Someone came forward and pinned Jake to the ground, holding a pistol to his head. 

Neteyam screamed through his muzzle, his eyes wider than the moon. But he couldn't do anything. When his adrenaline kicked in and he crawled to his hands and feet, he stumbled back to the ground, his chin smacking the floor. Everything was distorted. His vision was crossed and all he could see was multiple, blurry visions of everything.

"Shut up, boy, and don't struggle." Quaritch snapped, reaching through the now open cage door, throwing Neteyam over his shoulder and taking him back through the Wherehouse. The man jogged to a helicopter and ran up the ramp, then tossed Neteyam inside. He grimaced at the force, realizing the helicopter was whirring in the air moments after Quaritch hopped into the cockpit next to the female avatar he'd spared. 

Neteyam couldn't speak his distress of where they were taking him. He just laid there, tears falling down his cheeks.

Then, he was filled with rage. He would not let them throw him around like this. Even if he lost, they would not win. Neteyam began to scream, cries of pain and anger. He rammed himself into the wall of the flying machine, over and over again. It sent indescribable pain of his arm, but he continued anyways. He wanted to go home. 

Quaritch got up from his seat and grabbed some sort of metal stick thing with a ridge at the end. He raised his arm, his fingers tightening round the handle, and struck Neteyam across the head with it. Searing, white-hot pain flashed behind his vision, and he was knocked to the floor, blood trickling down the side of his face. 

Neteyam didn't try to fight the exhaustion this time. He let the darkness take him so maybe when he woke up, this would have all just been a dream. 

                                                                                      ~~~ 

Jake watched the helicopter fly away with a such a weight guilt fear, and sadness upon his shoulders. His son, being stolen away by Colonel Miles Quaritch. Laying at his feet was the dead body of the avatar who'd kept him from rescuing Neteyam in the first place.  Jake looked down, visibly crumbling. 

Behind him, Neytiri cupped her mouth with her hand and cried, dropping her bow at her side. Kiri wrapped her arms around her mother's shoulders and soothed her, but Jake knew the anger of Neytiri was an emotion nobody could quench. 

Lo'ak ran to Jake's side, panting rapidly. He looked at his father desperately, pointing to the helicopter than was flying into the distance. "No, Dad. What are you doing? We have to go after him!" he was driven by emotion. 

Jake put his hands on his son's shoulders, making an attempt to keep his overriding feelings beneath the surface. "Lo'ak, we won't catch up. We need another plan, but I promise you, we'll get him back." Despite the meaning of his words, he didn't expect them to be so dry. He wanted to get Neteyam back more than anything, but he knew they would fail if they chased after him. They had no clue where Quaritch was taking him. 

Jake looked back at his family. Neytiri, sobbing. Kiri looking distraught. Lo'ak upset and angry. He even saw tears rolling down Feya's cheek, but she stayed out of the way of the group, visibly feeling like an intruder among the Sully's. She looked down, her face scrunching up in sadness. 

"Jake Sully," Tonowari spoke, "This mission is not over."  

"No," Jake grumbled, "It's not."

Psalm 73: 26-My flesh and my heard may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and portion forever.