Chapter Text
Jake learned that a hospital could be quieter than he had ever witnessed.
“They want me to go,” he said softly, tilting his head as he looked at the man lying unconscious on the hospital bed, motionless, identical to him, like drops of water.
“…without you.”
He knew the reason but still wondered why there was no answer.
“Pandora,”
Jake weakly laughed. “You were the one who wanted to go there the most.”
His eyes looked empty as memories of the past filled his mind.
Since childhood, Tom and Jake had always been together. They tried to be alike in everything. People constantly mistook them for one another, and over time it became their little game. But they weren't alike in their personality. Tommy was the intelligent,smart and responsible one. Jake was the athletic, sweet and kind one. Same face, different points of view.
When they were 13, Tom found his dream. Go to another planet, to Pandora. He focused on his studies and advancing through classes. Making himself busy.
When Jake could no longer stay in the same class as Tommy, it made him sad. But he didn't complain about it; he just decided to accept it so he wouldn’t ruin his dear brother’s dream.
As they grew older, Tommy became more busy with scientific research, while Jake left to become a Marine, and the distance between them slowly grew more… Still, who could know how life would change?
Jake returned from war disabled, spending his days in a quiet hospital room, waiting for wounds that were possible to heal. Believing there's no place like this quiet, yet at the same time very loud. Inside there, only his legs didn't heal. He chose not to tell Tom about his condition. Why disturb someone who was chasing after his dreams?
Days went by one by one. Finally, Tommy realized his relationship with Jake had become farther. He worried that he had not heard anything about his younger brother for a long time. He felt bad about it. Being born just a few seconds before him, making him his big brother. He loved that. He will be the one responsible and will protect his lovely younger brother from everything he can.
When he came to see him, he never imagined finding Jake like this. He realized he never protected him properly, just blinded by his selfish desire. He didn't care for his brother enough. He failed as a big brother. Tom felt rage toward himself, cursing at himself for being blind.
Jake looked at the face that looked like his own and couldn’t tell what it was thinking.
He only knew that from now on, no one would ever confuse them again.
They talked after that.
After Tommy found his passion, Jake tried to find his own by becoming a Marine but only found it left him disabled. For someone who had always been active, losing the ability to walk was a devastating blow. He stared at his legs, knowing they wouldn’t move, yet still trying to put them into motion, sitting in complete silence.
"I'm sorry for being useless, sorry for not being by your side."
Jake was thinking 'it wasn't Tommy's fault; it happened because i was dumb. It was okay and supposed to be', but he still didn't manage to let the word come out. He was trying to be brave every day. But when he saw Tommy after a long time, he just felt himself being weak. He felt embarrassment.
In that silence, Tom sat facing Jake, placed a hand on his shoulder, and said,
“In a year, when the avatar project is ready, we’ll go to Pandora together."
He looked at his younger brother with sparkling, hopeful eyes.
“It’s only been a few days since we started it,” Tom said. “If I ask them, I’m sure they’ll make one for you too.”
“I don’t want to leave you like this. I don’t want to be far from you anymore," he was determined.
“Sullys stick together.”
It was one of the silly things they made when they were children.
After hearing this, Jake stopped his futile attempts to move and looked at Tommy, finally accepting his offer.
Somehow, Tom managed to get approval from the higher-ups, and they were both cleared to go to Pandora together.
They trained and studied side by side, as Jake slowly adapted to his condition. Life was becoming better. They shortened the distance they made. Caring for each other, being on their side. Trusting each other more than anything. Comfort.
But who could ever know how life could change?
Seven days before their departure to Pandora, some bastard shot Tommy just to steal the paper inside his wallet. He was rushed to the hospital in time, but it left him in a coma for an unknown length of time.
At least he wasn’t dead.
At least he was still here.
Jake tried to comfort himself whether it helped or not. All he could do was hope Tommy would wake up soon. Every time he thinks things are becoming well, life throws his trash at him, making him somehow miserable. Jake turned his wheelchair; if he saw him one more time, he would feel like part of him would want to stay beside Tommy forever, so he forced himself not to look. He needs full focus on the mission coming for him.
If Tommy woke up while Jake was on Pandora, he would go to him.
If Jake finished the mission before Tommy woke up, he would return to him.
After all, if no one is dead, they will stick together.
Seven days later Jake flew from Earth to space and went to another ship with others. The Earth as it appears from space looks exactly as it looks. There is no green left. Air pollution looks like clouds. Even the ocean, which should look blue, was gradually turning gray due to pollution.
Everyone goes to their own cryo.
Jake, who is flying in a spaceship due to weightlessness, heads to the cryo chamber assigned to him. It was better than sitting in a wheelchair. Inside cryo, you don’t dream. Even though the journey to Pandora would take six years, it would feel like only a few hours had passed.
Jake lay down inside, closed his eyes, and felt the silent darkness wrap around him.
But somehow, Jake Sully dreamed of flying.
In his dream, there was no weight in his body, no pain, and no chair waiting for him when he woke. He was riding something very fast. Having fun, feeling freedom that he hadn't felt for a long time. Sadly it wasn't real; he wakes up.
“Are we there yet?”
“Yeah. We’re there, sunshine.” he flashing light on his eyes "We're there."
The air carried him effortlessly, and beneath him stretched a glowing world, alive with light. Looking out the window, it looks like Earth before humanity had polluted it.
They arrived at the new planet aboard another small spaceship. When the ship landed, everyone except Jake disembarked first, already prepared.
Earth had been crowded, loud, and broken. People passed by without a second glance. The world had learned how to keep going without caring who it crushed beneath it.
He reached for the controls of his wheelchair and pulled himself upright with practiced ease. His legs didn’t move. They never did. The doctors said it could be fixed. Spinal regeneration existed, but it would cost more money than he would ever have. So he adapted. Survived. Endured.
“If we succeed and complete the mission, we’ll make a lot of money. With that money, we can fix your legs.”
Jake remembered Tommy saying that.
Now, that money would also pay for Tommy’s hospital bills.
Pandora’s air was toxic to humans, so masks had to be worn at all times.
Jake moved his wheelchair slowly, observing his surroundings. This is very well organized and seems like a strict regime. He sees a tank pass by pierced by an arrow.
Marvelous.
To think there is someone powerful enough to do that.
Swimming inside his thoughts, Jake heard two soldiers mock him.
"Check this out, man."
“Meat on wheels.”
It happened everywhere he went. He was used to it. It's the first day of his work; he mustn't cause any problem.
He looked at the forest. Beyond the fence stood massive trees and countless unfamiliar plants. He felt someone observing him very carefully.
How strange.
Jake moved closer to look; a small dragon-like creature suddenly startled him. He tried to get a better look, but the soldier beside him had already shot it, and the creature lay lifeless on the ground, blood flowing.
It felt like a warning.
Make one wrong move, and this is how you will end.
If you want to survive on Pandora, you have to be careful. This place is not for weak people.
He glanced at the creature for long enough to feel sorry, even though it tried to attack him. He prayed peace for the unknown creature and moved on.
Jake is confused about where he should go after hearing the introduction from his superior.
"Jake?" Jake turned around to see a tall man. Norm Spellman. His posture was slightly hunched, not from weakness, but from years spent leaning over consoles and lab tables. He met him through Avatar training.
"Oh, Norm."
"Nice to see you again, man." They held hands "I'm so sorry about what happened to Tom. I hope he will wake up soon"
"It's okay," he followed Norm. He knows where he's supposed to go. They entered the lab. There were few scientists minding their own business.
"We're going to spend a lot of time here."
He pointed "There's the link room. "Look, man, there's our avatars," he sounds excited.
He saw big blue inside large transparent tanks filled with nutrient-rich liquid. Jake and Norm will drive these remotely controlled bodies, and they are grown from human DNA mixed with DNA of the Na'vi.
When they got near, Max was first to introduced himself.
"Hey. Welcome. Welcome to Pandora." They shake hands.
"Good to have you guys."
Now he can see more closer at the blues.
"Damn, they got big"
"Yeah, they fully mature on the flight out" Max answered.
"Yeah, they got great muscle tone. It'll take us a few hours to get them decanted."
While the 2 scientists were talking, Jake looked at the amnio tanks. Inside the tanks, their unconscious Na'vi version of him. There were 2 identical avatars. One is his, the other one is Tommy’s.
"But you can take them out tomorrow. There's yours." Max pointed at the avatar behind Norm.
"And Jake, you can choose whatever you want. Your DNA would fit both of them."
If you looked closely, you could see that their patterns are slightly different. But it's almost indistinguishable. It's not like there will be someone who will notice it. He chose the avatar that was near to him.
"I'll take this."