CHAPTER 18
"Dad!" Tuk cried as she saw the Metkayina. The warriors came to a stop and floated on the surface of the water.
"It's Sully," the man that had captured them said as he ripped Lo'ak's comm device from his neck and earpiece from his ear, placing it into his own ear. He pressed the button on the comms device and held it close to his face, "Jake. Tell your friends to stand down. You want your kids back - you come out alone." The man took out a gun and held it to Lo'ak's head, "You know better than to test my resolve."
'Kanu did not understand a word that was being said, so she frantically started pulling at the cuff, trying to break free, "Lo'ak - no!" She called but was silenced when one of their soldiers placed a hand threateningly on her shoulder and clicked the safety off his gun.
"I took you under my wing, Jake," the man said into the comm, "You betrayed me. You killed your own, good men - good women. I will not hesitate to execute your kid."
"Just wait." Jake said from the other end of the line.
The man did not lift his gun from Lo'ak's head and 'Kanu was starting to panic. Was he really going to shoot him right there and then? Right in front of little Tuk?
"Offers gonna expire," the man taunted after a moment of silence in which no one dared to move, "What's it gonna be?"
"Check your fire. I'm coming down."
'Kanu could see as one of the warriors swam ahead of the rest, leaving the others behind. She squinted as she tried to make out who it was. Her wisest guess was that it was Toruk Makto - but she had not a clue as to what he was planning.
"Easy shot," one of the Na'vi looking men said, looking through the radar of his gun.
The scary man who was in lead pushed his gun toward the ground, "You hit him now, they attack," he said. Then added with a smile, "Wait till he's on board."
'Kanu did not understand the words being exchanged between the two men, but whatever it was couldn't have been good. Lo'ak snarled in anger, his eyes showing pure fury. 'Kanu tried turning her attention back on Jake, who drew closer with every passing second.
Her attention was stolen as a large shape emerged from the water, throwing itself onto the deck. "Payakan!" Tuk cried as the three Na'vi turned their heads to watch the tulkun land on the ship.
The men ran for cover as the ship jolted when the tulkun landed and crushed at least one of the soldiers. 'Kanu could not help but smile in relief at the sight of Payakan. Even when the ship shook and her wrist hurt from where the cuff cut into her skin, she could not help but cheer, lifting her free hand into the air in delight.
The soldiers in their big machines started shooting at Payakan, "Open fire!" They yelled as they fired their guns. Payakan's skin was too thick to be penetrated by some measly bullets - all they did was anger him further.
"Brother!" Lo'ak called as he kicked the man closest to him, making him fall forward. The tulkun took a swipe with his fin as he let out the loudest howl Kanu had ever heard any tulkun make, sending the man flying across the deck.
Payakan was wreaking havoc on board. He hit a machine that was suspended in the air by wire and sent it across the ship - making everyone run in fear and duck from the chunk of metal.
Amidst this chaos, the Metkayina let out cries as they shot forward at full speed - eager to join the fight to rescue their own people.
Payakan was being fired at from all directions and he let out a cry before bringing his tail up and denting a bridge from under - causing the men who stood above it to fly into the air before coming into contact with the cement of the deck.
"I'll say this now - because who knows how hectic things will become-" Lo'ak said as the ship jostled, causing all three of them to hiss in pain.
"I think things already are rather hectic!" 'Kanu yelled over the chaos.
Lo'ak rolled his eyes, "You know what I mean!" Tuk looked back and forth between the two with a frown.
"Okay, okay! What is it?" 'Kanu turned her head to meet Lo'ak's eyes.
"I'm sorry I ignored you," Lo'ak said, "I shouldn't have taken advice from Neteyam - I can't believe I thought he'd know what to do!"
"What?" 'Kanu asked, "I can't hear you!" The sounds of gunshots and explosions could have truly made her unable to hear him, but Lo'ak knew this was payback for when he pretended he could not hear her apology.
Lo'ak rolled his eyes again, "We don't have time for this!" He said, "Im sorry that I ignored you! It was the wrong thing for me to do. I just didn't know what to do when-"
His speech was interrupted by Tuk making gagging noises, "Gross! Can't you wait until we get out of here and I'm not present?"
'Kanu laughed. "Well, I'm saying it in case we never get out!" Lo'ak yelled over the gunshots.
"Of course we're getting out!" 'Kanu assured Tuk when her eyes widened in fear. "And you're forgiven," she told Lo'ak.
Lo'ak probably smiled and thanked her, but she was no longer paying attention. From the corner of her eye, 'Kanu saw as a smaller ship speed up and curve to face Payakan. She barely had time to yell out a warning when the man shot at the tulkun. A huge harpoon that was attached to the boat by wire shot out but Payakan was able to avoid being shot by angling his head down. 'Kanu watched with wide eyes as the harpoon bounced off his thick skin and made contact with something on the ship that caused an explosion.
Payakan let out one last cry before he slid back into the waters head first, denting a crane and narrowly missing one of the sky people who shot at him.
The sky people had now noticed the warriors charging at them and opened fire. They were not able to do much as the warriors merely dove under the surface.
"Stand back," the man who had captured them told the other Na'vi impersonators, "I want eyes from above!" He got on the back of his ikran, who had conveniently flown by them just then.
'Kanu turned her head to watch the warriors fighting with the smaller ships and people in the water. She could not help but smile when she saw her father and mother successfully taking down some of the people. "Tuk! Look!" She nudged the small girl beside her and pointed up at the sky with her free hand.
Tuk grinned when she saw an ikran circle above them, "Mom!" She cheered. Neytiri had just taken down an aircraft that had been getting ready for takeoff. Tuk's smile faded when she saw the man who had captured them go after her mother with his ikran.
"It is okay, Tuk," 'Kanu wrapped her free arm around her, "Your mother will be fine," she assured her, "Look! There is your father!" she gestured to Toruk Makto, who had gotten the Na'vi impersonator off Neytiri's back by shooting at him.
Tuk smiled once again, though she looked more worried now.
There was an explosion and the ship jostled. 'Kanu looked behind her and recognized that there had been another explosion - courtesy of Payakan flinging a boat into a turbine. Soon the turbine that had been on fire started moving, and the ship started going forward.
The ship hit rocks and was sent flying into the air. 'Kanu and Tuk screamed as they all felt their legs lift off the ground, as if they were defying gravity. If it wasn't for the cuffs holding them to the railing, they would have tumbled backwards.
The moment they spent airborne felt like it had been slowed down - a dream, if you will. But all that came crashing down when they suddenly fell back to the floor. 'Kanu groaned as she forced herself to get back into a crouched position. She could tell there were going to be bruises all the way up and down her legs.
"Are you okay?" Lo'ak asked both of them once they had recovered, "Okay," he stood up and tried pulling his arms free. 'Kanu and Tuk were quick to follow his lead and try to free themselves.
"Come on," 'Kanu grunted, her teeth grit as she pulled at the restraints.
"Neteyam!" Tuk suddenly cried. 'Kanu turned her head to her right to see the oldest Sully brother hurrying toward them. He had climbed up the side of the boat to get to them.
"Hey, my baby brother," he greeted Lo'ak as he leaned down to free 'Kanu from the cuffs, "Need some help?" He pulled his knife back, breaking the bind that had held 'Kanu to her place.
She flexed her hand, a sense of relief washing over her for no longer being stuck to a sinking ship. "Neteyam," she smiled.
Neteyam grinned at her, patting her head quickly before moving over to Tuk, "I told you I would take care of you," he reminded her of the promise he made, glancing back at her and successfully making her smile wider.
"Shut up," Lo'ak told him as Neteyam hurried to free Tuk, "Come on - get us loose."
When Tuk was freed, 'Kanu was quick to take her into her arms. Neteyam placed a hand on her shoulder to get her to look at him, "It's okay," he said, "Get Tuk out of here," he pointed far off.
"Hurry up!" Lo'ak said, holding his hands out.
'Kanu nodded and stood up, holding Tuk's hand tightly in hers and they ran to the part of the ship where he had entered, "Come! Let's jump!" Tuk said and dove into the water first.
'Kanu stopped just before jumping and looked back at the boys, motioning for them to follow them. Lo'ak picked up a gun from one of the fallen soldiers. Neteyam looked back at her, "We have to get Spider. He's our friend," he told her before running after his brother, "You should go! Go take care of Tuk!" He called over his shoulder.
'Kanu let out a frustrated hiss as she looked back and forth from the water and the two boys who were running. Who would she follow?
Tuk.
'Kanu ran forward before leaping off the edge of the ship, diving headfirst into the water. When she reached Tuk and broke surface again, her gaze was led to the sky.
"Let me go!"
'Kanu gasped as she looked up to see an ikran holding onto Kiri with its claws, taking her to the ship. "Look!" Tuk cried and pointed at the creature as it dropped Kiri onto the deck, "We've got to go back for her," she said and started swimming back towards the ship.
"Tuk! Wait!" She called but started swimming after Tuk nonetheless. She was mentally cursing the boys for staying behind for that human boy.
"Sullys stick together," Tuk told her before taking in a deep breath and diving back under the water.
'Kanu groaned in frustration before she followed Tuk under the water, making her way back towards the ship they had just managed to escape.