●Jake Sully was a simple man. He was a soldier through and through. One that had been dragged into such an uncanny situation due to his luck of being an identical twin. Now as he gazed into a large window showcasing a Na'vi woman, he wondered what the hell he was doing here.

Over the last couple of days, word of his accomplishments had spread like wildfire throughout the base. And after he had reported to Quaritch of his progress in successfully being taken in by the Omaticaya clan, the older man had insisted on taking him somewhere isolated. All he was told was that it held something extremely valuable. But now he knew it was someone not something and god she was beautiful.

He watched the white striped woman sit up to stretch while yawning. Her black hair wasn't in the braids he was used to seeing on the Omaticaya people. It flowed freely down her back and the white shirt that reached her knees.

He didn't take his eyes off her as he asked, "Who is she?" Neytiri had never mentioned someone being taken. He shouldn't have been surprised considering he had only just started training with her a few days ago. Maybe this was the reason they were all on edge when he arrived.

"A savage they call Nixie."

Almost like she heard them, she turned to hiss at the two sided mirror. Jake felt the air leave his lungs and even with the glass between them he looked into her wide and hateful eyes with obvious interest.

And he swore he saw heaven staring back. Her memorizing eyes glowed a bright blue and stared directly in his direction.

"Why do you keep her?" He was already enamored by the woman in every way.

"Learn their weaknesses but the geeks are convinced her blood can cure just about anything. It sells for a lot back on Earth."

Jake rolled closer to the glass and put his hand against it. This was another opportunity to prove himself worthy of getting his legs back. The tiniest bit of guilt crawled into his heart but he didn't know these Na'vi people. There was nothing connecting him to them so why did he feel so bad while uttering his next words?

"We can use her, well I can learn from her. Gain their trust by bringing her back and use her as leverage," he watched Quaritch try to protest and rushed his idea out, "Once we get what we need, I'll return her. I'll come back in the avatar to make things easier. " The plan was simple yet without a lot of careful details that would guarantee its success but it wasn't a bad idea.

He didn't even try to hear the other man's response and continued watching the ethereal girl reluctantly get off the bed that had been built for her size.

♡

"You are distracted today." Neytiri watched Jake carefully as he tried weaving a simple basket.

Their lessons for today were more focused on the smaller and everyday tasks of the people but Jake couldn't focus on anything. He was trying to conjure up an excuse to leave later tonight.

Unfortunately for him, Neytiri was fed up with him. "Stop, you are not focused and are wasting my time."

He nodded and leaned back on his hands. "Sorry. This is just a lot to take in." In truth, it was a lot to process. Everything from his time on Earth to now ran through his mind on a daily basis.

"There is something bothering you. What is it?" Neytiri's piercing gaze burned through him and he faltered.

"I have to return to the lab for a few tests." He paused to continue to bullshit his way through this conversation. "To make sure the avatar is okay."

Neytiri tensed up from his nervousness, "The healers and mother can take a look at you. Besides, father will not allow you to leave." She then went back to weaving her own basket while Jake cursed to himself quietly. He really needed a better excuse.

Both of them would send each other suspicious glances in the quietness of the forest. Not being able to trust each other would be the downfall of their relationship.

♡

"Okay Nixie today will be a little different."

Nixie was being led through the prison that held her. Hanging from her neck was her collar and a breathing mask. She would need to take brief inhales of air as she followed the small human.

Her eyes narrowed in on the even tinier device the human carried as he talked. She knew if she made one wrong move then that very device would be used to send those painful shockwaves through her body.

"Nixie, are you listening?"

Her ears twitched and she tried remembering what he had said. The confusion on her face made the man sigh.

"You have to start paying more attention. Anyway, I was saying that today will be different and I need you to be on your best behavior, okay?" His tone was condescending and it irked the Na'vi.

Nixie instinctively hissed, "I am not a child. Do not speak to me as such."

The human was cocky and flashed the remote in his hand causing Nixie to change her demeanor. She lost the angry glint in her eyes and lowered her head in submission. Fear of the agony to come she clenched her eyes shut. This was what she had been reduced to. A trained pet that did as she was told.

"Mark, what are you doing?" Relief flooded Nixie at the sound of her savior.

"Mind your business Kate."

Kate was one of the only humans that treated Nixie like she was a living being. The tall woman had bright orange hair with grey eyes that were currently sharp from annoyance.

"This is my business. Now hand me that," she gestured to the remote, "and leave. You've done your part."

Mark reluctantly handed the older woman the device and turned to leave. As he passed by Nixie, she snarled with bared teeth. Without the remote he was vulnerable and flinched against the wall before scurrying down the hallway.

Kate hid a smirk behind her hand then ushered Nixie to follow her into the spacious lab. "I'm sorry about Mark. You know how he is."

Nixie sat in the large seat in the middle of the room and shook her head. "He is a coward."

"I know. I try to keep him and the others busy so they don't bother you but today I couldn't take the time to escort you." She went into a drawer gathering what she needed as she spoke with her back facing Nixie. There was no fear or mistrust that the Na'vi would harm her. They had a bond of understanding and Kate left the remote on a table far away from them.

"I am grateful. May I ask why you could not bring me today?" Nixie was curious after what Mark said. She was on edge about what exactly about today would be different.

Kate frowned even though Nixie couldn't see it. "There was a meeting about some things. One of them being this." She turned around holding a machine that Nixie had never seen but she could see a large needle at the end of it. "You're losing too much weight and this will help you from getting sick." The lie flowed from her mouth almost effortlessly. It hurt her to betray the small amount of trust they had built but these were orders.

Nixie slowly nodded. She trusted Kate and knew either way, she didn't have a choice. "Will it hurt?"

"Yes but only for a second." The human woman stood on a stool and began cleaning an area on Nixie's right shoulder blade. For a moment she paused. Was this really necessary? She understood why she had to do this and why they chose her to do it. Nixie wouldn't let anyone else get this close to her most vulnerable areas. Not without a fight.

"Kate, I can hear your heart racing. Whatever you are thinking, it's okay. You have treated me kindly and I have placed my trust in you."

If only Nixie could see the devastation on Kate's face then maybe she would reconsider her words. But Kate had a job to do so she lifted the injector made to penetrate Na'vi skin and pushed it up to the now sterile area. "Take a deep breath, hold it, then let it out slowly."

Nixie held the mask to her face and did as she was told. When she started to breathe out she heard a click and a searing pain flooded her senses. Without thinking she jumped off the metal seat and reached a hand back to her wound. Her instincts pushed her to huddle into a corner as she breathed heavily with wide, unforgiving, glowing eyes.

That was unlike anything she had ever experienced and was almost worse than the collar around her neck. It felt like a foreign object had been forced into her body. It burned badly and she wanted to claw it out of her skin. What had Kate put into her body?

♡

Kate walked into a meeting room with a scowl. There was a human and avatar talking amongst themselves but stopped once she threw the injector onto the table.

"It's done. The tracker is in place." She looked up at the one and only Jake Sully and the man behind most of this operation, Quaritch. She didn't wait for a response before leaving and slamming the door behind her.

Jake was the only one phased but he forced the feelings of uncertainty down. "Just a tracker?"

"It'll give us clear readings of her vitals and will keep her under control once you leave."

Jake furrowed his eyebrows,"How?"

"You'll see soon enough."

♡

After the incident with Kate, Nixie was back in her room pacing back and forth.

She wasn't sure what to think when the smell of the forest hit her nostrils. She turned her head towards the door just as a tall man walked through. Not just any man, he was Na'vi and dressed in the clothing that she missed so much. But she didn't recognize him and his odd features. The hair above his eyebrows and the strange scent that lingered with his own was enough to put her on alert yet she didn't feel scared. It reminded her of someone but she didn't know who.

Before he could say anything, Nixie perched herself on top of the bed with hopeful eyes. Her ears perked up for the first time in weeks and a gleeful yet naive smile appeared on her face.

"Who are you?"●