Chapter 32: Sensitive hearts.
"Your time is running out Colonel, we want results, not your attempts to give answers," came an authoritative voice, and by the tone, it was angry.
Quaritch was inside a conference room, a place that was currently with the windows closed, to bring darkness and holographic images to show.
The RDA's purpose on Pandora was already well known, which was to mine unobtainium ore, the material required to run the maglev trains with which the RDA had risen to the top, and now such shipping processes had been put on hold thanks to the negative reaction of the Na'Vi.
Quaritch, undeterred, gave his response; "We are already taking steps to ensure the safe exploitation of the metal, we have more regular crews, as well as members of the Avatar project giving us information from within the Na'Vi aggressor group".
At this, one of the high council members only scoffed; "and has it yielded results? Because so far it hasn't, even after several months we haven't received anything of substance, we've only managed to learn of their culture, which doesn't help business at all."
"We just need time, with that..." Quaritch started to say, only to be interrupted; "that's the problem, you don't have time anymore, we want results, don't forget that the safe care of your family here on earth depends on it, you don't want them to die because they can't get the necessary care, do you?" said a woman from the council, not so subtly giving a threat.
At what was said, Quaritch could only grit his teeth, as his fists clenched; "The next conference will be in a month, don't let us down colonel" said the same woman as before, then disconnected from the call, as did the others.
"....."
"AHHHH!"
Quaritch shouted, knocking over everything on a nearby table, then moving to flip over the table itself, after his outburst, he proceeded to calm his breathing, as he pulled a photograph out of his waistcoat.
The picture showed a much younger Miles, in the company of a beautiful woman, whom Miles put his right arm around, while the woman held a child in her arms, the three of them were in front of what looked like a big giant rock, which was surrounded by several ponds, vegetation, and nature, with a sign that said peñol stone on one side, everything looked beautiful, in peace, and Miles could tell by the way he ran his fingers over the picture and how his eyes were moistening.
After several minutes, Quaritch got his emotions under control as his face hardened, his vulnerable, melancholy image behind him, back to the gruff, emotionless colonel they all knew.
Turning to the communicator on one of the tables that Quaritch hadn't knocked over, he switched to a call to the switchboard; "This is Colonel Quaritch" to be followed by a woman's voice, "Yes? Colonel."
"Get Jake Sully on the phone, I want him in hangar four in half an hour," she said, then hung up and got on with his work for the day.
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In another part of the base, Grace was meeting with Norm and Dr. Max Patel, the cause, Grace's interest in leaving Hell's Gate to go to the Hallelujah Mountains, in the program, Grace, Norm, and Jake would travel to the legendary mountains to stop Quaritch and Selfridge from using Jake as a source of intelligence, and to stop them from interfering with Grace's Avatar project any more than they already were.
But this time, Grace's arrival in the Subaiya clan erased that action of destiny, as Grace continued to research her project with herself, how the Avatar connected to Pandora, and her communications with the Na'Vi, for her, Jake took a back seat once she was accepted into the clan, especially since she could do her research herself without needing a soldier whose only contact with biological research had been dissecting a frog.
"We'll travel to sector 26, there's a link module there ready to use, there you can continue with your process Norm" commented Grace, making Norm as excited as a little boy to know that he would finally meet the legendary floating mountains of Pandora.
"Quaritch has his hands on Jake, but since my project is not under his power, I managed to get Jake to travel with us as well, so right now he can be getting his stuff ready" continued Grace explaining, "Another thing, I wanted you to come with us Max, but I need someone reliable here to keep me informed of the important things happening in this place".
"Count on me doctor" was the reply Max gave him, very focused on helping Grace with whatever she needed.
"Well, that will be all, Trudy will do us the favor of taking us to the station, she already knows the way and I trust her," Grace finished, ending the meeting.
After that, everyone went to do their things, with Grace packing the most important things she would need once she was off base.
Grace thought a lot about the days that had passed after the conversation with Jake, and came to the understanding that she had nothing left on the base, she had found a family, a home, and a purpose.
She would do anything in her power to protect that, and if that meant going into exile so that Quaritch would not use her as an intelligence agent or a toad, then she would do so, and that was the reason for her going to the Hallelujah Mountains.
Furthermore, if conflict did arise between the RDA and the Na'Vi, then she would be safe within the mountains where the apex would protect her from being found by Quaritch, which would give her complete freedom to fight alongside her clan without any outside worries.
"Oh Eywa, let's hope that doesn't happen, and if it does, give me the strength to protect what I love.
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
Marcia_05
Marcia_05 Whoever guesses where Quaritch's photo was taken wins a prize.
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Creation is hard, cheer me up!
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