A/N: Chapter 6, here we go!!!! You guys know the rules, the disclaimer, all that! Let's get in this story!!!

(Siera's POV)

After Jake, Alex and I get out of our link beds that connect us to our Avatars, we head straight to where the RDA is setting up their weapons and aircraft. A lot of heavy gear and equipment, that is what it looks like to me. A familiar dark haired woman in combat boots and brown military jumpsuit greets us as we walk in.

"I'm Trudy," she says. "I fly all the science sorties. And this here's my baby." She pats the hood of a large Samson ship with a smile, then turns her head. She walks up to it, looking at us.

"Hold on a second." She then starts yelling at a Marine that I'm feeling a red aura from, and I have to blink my eyes, or narrow them, really. I don't trust him.

"Hey, Wainfleet!" She yells. "Get it done! We bounce at zero-nine." Wainfleet mounts a gun on the side of the Samson then remarks back to Trudy,

"Yeah, I'm on it, capitaine!" I roll my eyes as Trudy bounces off the side of the Samson.

"Vine strike's still loose," she says to us. Alex and I look around, amazed by all the machinery and weaponry.

"Looks like you guys are packing some heavy gear," Jake says. I then almost run into Alex for the second time today as a vehicle with a running yellow light stops a few inches from hitting us.

"Watch it!" Trudy yells. "Yeah, that's cause we're not the only thing flying around out there. Or the biggest. I'm gonna need you on a door gun. I'm a man short." Jake seems to smile, but I just look around some more at all the artillery the RDA has to offer. Not that I'll be handling a gun. Just because my father gave me military training, does not mean I will follow in his footsteps as a Marine.

"I thought you'd never ask." Jake replies to her. Trudy seems to smile before we stop, and she cocks her head.

"There's your man," she says, pointing to the weight room. "See you on the flight line." She fist bumps Jake, then Alex, then wraps her arms around me in a quick embrace before pulling away and leaving. We then walk up, I end up leaning against the doorway as my eyes narrow at the Col. I'm getting a lot of bad vibes from him, his aura's more red than any of the other soldiers here, I can sense it.

"You wanted to see us, Colonel?" Jake asks. Quaritch is lifting weights, his fatigues consisting of his military boots, pants, dog tags, and a gray tank top, the front already soaked through with sweat. His biceps ripple as he lifts the weight, lowers it again to his chest, then lifts it back up.

"This low gravity will make you soft," he says. "You get soft," he puts the weights down, then sits up, his eyes on us. His eyes linger on me somewhat, and I shiver under his gaze. "Pandora will shit you out dead with zero warning." He then turns to Jake.

"I pulled your record, Corporal," he says to him. "Venezuela, that was some mean bush. Nothing like this here, though. You've got some heart, kid, showing up in this neighborhood." Jake shrugs his shoulders, and voices our thoughts,

"Figured it was just another hellhole." Quaritch gets up, a sadistic grin on his face. I grimace, but luckily he doesn't notice and keeps his attention and focus on Jake.

"I was First Recon myself," he says as he walks past us, glaring at me once before walking away, Jake, Alex and I following him. "A few years ahead of you. Well, maybe more than a few." We follow him across the room to one of the large AMP suits that we have. I grimace again, Alex noticing this, but not saying anything.

"Three tours Nigeria, not a scratch," Quaritch continues. "I come out here," he points to the ghastly scar on the side of his head. "Day one. Think I felt like a shavetail louie?" He walks to the AMP suit and messes with something.

"Yeah. Oh, they could fix me up, if I rotated back," he says, messing with the AMP's controls. "Yeah, and make me pretty again." He then turns back to us with another smile on his face. It makes me shiver.

"But you know what? I kinda like it. It reminds me every day what's waiting out there." I nod, not even listening anymore. Jake gives me a look and so does Alex. Alex is more reassuring though, which I'm pleased about.

"Hup," the Col. says as he starts to climb in the suit. "The Avatar Program is a bad joke. A bunch of limp dick science majors." We watch him as he climbs in and starts doing the straps, sliding them on over his broad shoulders, almost as if he's trying to flex and show off to me, which I grimace at once again.

"Show off." I mutter in Irish, as the Colonel gives me a narrowed look. He pulls the straps on as we take a small elevator to get up to his level so we can still speak to him.

"However, it does present an opportunity both timely and unique. Clear!" He calls out to someone and a man answers him saying the same thing which makes me shiver. He then powers up the AMP suit, making me jump at the sudden power up.

"A recon gyrene in an Avatar body. That's a potent mix." He pulls the straps tight on his body, making me shiver more. "Give me the goosebumps." I blink my eyes warily and cautiously. Of course, I'm still watching him. Alex is too, but not as intently as I am. He then turns to us again as he fits something on his hand that will make him control the AMP suit with his arms and movements. He then turns back to us, all serious.

"Such a Marine, or Marines, could provide me the intel I need, right on the ground. Right in the hostiles' camp." He then looks to us.

"Look, you three. I want you to learn these savages from the inside. I need you to gain their trust. I need to know how to force their cooperation or hammer them hard if they won't." I suck in a shaky breath. I knew it. He does have bad intentions. I'm not liking this.

"Are we still with Augustine?" Jake asks. Alex scratches the back of his head, still listening with arms folded, all serious.

"On paper," Quaritch answers. "Yeah, you walk like her science pukes, you quack like them, but you report to me." He turns to us as he says this. I shiver again, and I want out of here. I do. I don't like being under that ice blue gaze of his. I still have no idea what his intentions are, especially for me. I bite my lip, and Alex senses my worry. He doesn't say anything though, but does something that not only shocks me, but sends good chills up my spine. He puts his hand on my hip, almost protectively, pushing my shirt up only a tiny bit to rub at the skin. I know why he's doing this. It's to keep me calm. I bite my lip harder, trying not to blush. My heart however, skips beats.

"Can you do that for me, you three?" Quaritch asks, breaking me out of whatever stupor I'm in. I don't pull away from Alex though. Jake then says three words that will put us in league with him.

"Hell yeah, sir." Quaritch nods.

"Well, alright then." He then presses a button on the AMP suit and it comes to life. I watch as he moves his arms, the suit's mechanical arms moving with his own as he walks. He then stops, placing his hands on his hips as he turns back to us.

"Son, I take care of my own," he says to Jake. "You get me what I need, I see to it you get your legs back when you rotate home." He points to Jake's unmoving paralyzed legs. "Your real legs." Jake seems to nod, and I almost suck in another breath if it's not for Alex's hand on my hip. Jake nods and says,

"That sounds real good, sir." Quaritch then puts the visor of the AMP suit down then walks away. I almost sigh in relief, glad he's not doing anything else.

"You okay?" Alex asks me. "You seemed kind of spooked while we were talking to the Colonel." I'm glad that Alex cares about my well-being and all, but I still can't get over the fact that there's more to this mission. I'll have to be careful with everything, including my journal entries. I nod.

"M' fine," I say to him, both of us speaking in Na'vi. Alex nods. My heart races once more. But I push my feelings back, cause we're about to go back to the link bay to get into our Avatars again. Going where? Who knows by this point at least.

"Link's ready." Max says to Grace as we get into our link beds to link to our Avatars. Grace looks at Jake as he's already in his.

"Just keep your mouth shut and let Norm do the talking." She says to him, making him chuckle as the link closes. I then climb into mine, with a racing heart and nerves. Alex seems more calmer than I am at this moment. I just hope we aren't regretting anything.

Here we go, we're on our way to the actual wildlife of Pandora.

This is gonna be fun.

A/N: Did I just pull another double update?! Yes, I did!!!!
Hopefully, we can make it triple, if not, oh well. I hope you guys like this chapter! If you want an original chapter, you can, just look at my previous announcement on my Message Board. We're literally twenty-four minutes in the movie now!! I might take a little break, listen to some music, and either tomorrow or Saturday, depends on what's going on, I will update more. See you guys!!

Next Chapter Title: First Sortie