Liam approached the Na'vi holding the clothes for them, she didn't even flinch at his presence, she didn't even seem to notice. It was like she was on autopilot, her head void of any thought, frowning at this he took one of the loincloths given.
He didn't need and didn't want to know what her memories were and also it was beyond what he deemed acceptable as hypocritical as that was, so Eywa didn't give him knowledge of what obviously happened to this girl. He was holding a lot of anger and this would likely tip him over the edge and he already knew he would kill.
Still, it was a sad sight but it wasn't the time nor the place to try and comfort her, he lacked context as well but he was sure there was little this could give to excuse what happened to her unless she had been an absolute maniac that is a baby but that was ridiculous.
The poor things seemed to be deeply broken both physically and mentally, aside from a complete mindwipe and full body recovery he didn't know how to help.
Mercy killing was an option too but that was the lazy way out in this situation, not that it would be his problem to begin with and so not for him to decide. He wasn't a hero and she wasn't entitled to his time, only his mate was, what he could do however was give her the possibility to heal after he had done what must be done.
The piece of tissues disappeared in his inventory and before all without any kind of shame he placed his left hand around his waist, light bent all around his form and the Tek Armor vanished with of course all of the layers he was wearing below.
And so in front of many eyes, he became naked in all of his glory, but it was for a shorter time than the time for a neuron to fire a message to another as such for them he just instantly switched clothing, it was a very useful trick with his inventory.
This shocked the two other Na'vi that had placed the box, another gaze however was far more intense for vastly different reasons. He was being scrutinized, every centimeter of his body, muscle by muscle by none other than the one he didn't put into a Cryopod.
But he ignored it, being an object of lust while both insulting and complimenting wasn't new for him, even if it was from a Na'vi who tended to be more open.
Though… Laìo wasn't the only one to stare but for different reasons, aside from his physique, the muscles, and the general shape of his body to be exact there was the fact that a third of his skin was not present, instead, blue energy with violet and deeper blue veins replaced it.
"I kinda understand how this seemed to be such a pressing matter…", Jake said with genuine worry, the joke that his friend was turning blue flashing briefly in his mind.
"It's the tip of the iceberg, trust me. Many of my organs cannot function properly.", Liam said, picking up the remaining clothing of the Na'vi girl before throwing them at his two companions for them to change as well.
Without looking back he walked to the box in the middle of two other Na'vi, their reaction was far more vivid than the girl but they stayed still like trained dogs, tails between their legs and ears flattened. Yes, trained but badly treated dogs that was what they made him think of, slaves would be another denomination.
His face was emotionless in front of it, which was not the case inside but that was the same then for the girl, they were going to be given the chance to heal after this entire ordeal not that his cynics would let him believe they would ever be functional beings.
The three weren't just slaves or pets, they were toys. It was sick but it was the grim reality and he was certain they were chosen as a way to intimidate, most of their 'slaves' shouldn't look this bad since even freaks like them should understand broken things beyond repair don't work quite well.
Luckily it was an extremely uncommon practice on Pandora but the Ash People weren't the sole group with slaves, they were the most depraved and focused on it however.
'And to think some people think we are so different.', Liam thought as placed his Tek Armor, Tek Phase Gun, and a bunch of Cryopods with a bit more useless things to show how he 'complied' with them but it was like stealing the candy of a baby if even easier, he was just studying them for himself.
Fiddling with her 'clothes', a strap of leather for the top and another with tattered loincloth for the bottom Grace's face was conflicted and she said, "Since neither I nor Jake can magic our clothes would it be possible to have some privacy?"
"I will see but don't bring your hope for the birth to say.", Liam said and asked Laìo the answer came as he predicted, negative and overflowing with arrogance.
But of course, he didn't come here to be folded backward, it was also the case for his friends, the one with absolute authority was not these primitive savages, it was him a walking and breathing unstoppable force of nature.
He was accommodating them by their 'standard' to at least see how the situation would evolve even if he didn't delude himself.
They were lucky he was an EXTREMELY patient man, generally a pacifist, and that there were innocent individuals in their group because if not then necks would have snapped backward at sharp and unnatural angles.
'Honey, can you work around this? Without blood that is.', he said telepathically through the bond with his mate.
'My love, of course, with pleasure We can and We will… But are you certain you do not desire me to sever their Minds, and Souls from their Bodies, ending this conflict? Your state, it is less than acceptable… We are worried and We cannot waste time. My children mayhaps they are but not all life are equal.', was the response that greeted his mind and with a huff and a mental smirk he sent.
'Yes it is and violence would ease things through, that is certain… But it's not the first option I want and such an end would be too easy for them and it's a bit of a drastic solution. Heavy mind control is out as well, you know how I feel about it and it's not a must. They will simply suffer the adequate consequences of their actions.', he sent back, this was why even if he didn't have technology beyond mortal understanding he wouldn't have worried and this protection extended to Grace and Jake.
'As you wish, then We will give the intimacy your mortal companions desire. We will watch carefully and hope for your swift return to my Avatar.', she said and after those mental words the eyes of Laìo and every Na'vi glazed over and their eyelids sealed shut.
She understood why he acted this way, rationality turning into irrationality in front of excessive irrationality due to his mortal morals. It wasn't bad, but it shackled him in many ways and there was no forcing it. He will change and she will as well.
And this was due to these morals that the two of them were in such a relationship.
"Wha-okay then… Thank you for whatever happened.", Grace said, not blind to the sudden shift in all but their group, it was creepy and she knew it was from a power above her comprehension.
Maybe technology that affected the mind? She didn't know and she didn't want to but it wasn't an unheard concept in the study of Psionic. She and Jake used this chance to switch clothing and that was it, which for the latter wasn't so much needed but for her… Well, she deemed it so and wouldn't have budged.
At the exact same time, she finished changing and was placing her stuff in a neat pile in the box after Jake who finished minutes before all the Na'vi snapped back to reality, acting as if nothing ever happened.
{Follow me.}, Laìo said smirking, a clawed finger waving for them to follow within the dormant Hometree.
'Adorable she thinks she is in control.', Grace thought with disdain following begrudgingly behind Liam but she found very amusing the sheer arrogance emerging out of the grey-blue Na'vi and her incessant change of mood.
The inside was quite similar to that of the ancient Hometree of the Omatikaya bringing both pleasant and unpleasant memories to her and Jake but it was clear it was not the same.
There wasn't this feeling of comfort, family, and equilibrium built into the very tree, instead, a pungent smell reeked everywhere, rotting flesh, and moisture stayed in a confined space for far too long, and many more forbidden such as notably one born out of coupling. The two might even say it was arguably worse than on Earth.
Structures made of bones, stone, and mud replaced the full ones of branches and woven fibers Na'vi were masters in, this structure was built one atop the others with no particular chance or planning as they grew higher and higher like a hive.
Another facet that reminded the two of those dreaded megalopolises where billions and billions of people lived on top of each other in a never-ending tower that went deep underground, each lower level worse than the last.
Close to half a thousand pairs of eyes locked onto them from every corner, it would be almost intimidating if either Liam, Jake, or Grace weren't who they were or feared for their lives.
Thi didn't go unnoticed, not even after the main entrance was sealed off by a large circular wooden door that works through a pretty ingenious system of pulley and gears. The three of them were then escorted deeper, their gaze lingering on everything as they studied their environment, the most blatant aspect was the presence of a strict caste system.
There were 'normals' with varying nuance and 'slaves' with also some nuance, it was evident from the number of scars, bodily damages, body types, clothes, demeanor, and eyes.
A tidbit Liam found both infuriating and hilarious was that the clothes they were given were that the 'slaves' wore and if that wasn't an untold statement to how little they were considered as.
In the end, being considered equal to slaves by them was better than an equal period, who would want to be compared nevertheless be held with esteem by such individuals? It was comedic for him to think they thought their approval seemed to matter if the specifically chosen clothes were any indication.
Even with their calmness at the start the fact the three of them still didn't show fear or even nervousness caused a growing confusion in the crowd parting before them, the most emotional of the group being Grace and the only emotion she was showing under a somewhat good poker face was disgust and smoldering fury.
For Liam and an extensively lower-level Jake, his mere gaze was enough to make some flee or at the very least break eye contact and flinch showing the cowardice hidden by the power of being in a crowd. It was understandable, he wasn't the most friendly-looking guy being taller than most of them and far more bulky than any others.
"Tyrant of Steel!", broken English in a feminine and authoritative voice laced with venom reached their ears as the one source of it advanced swiftly toward them.
She was a tall and athletic Na'vi, her pale blue-grey skin scarred in many parts yet blemishless, the scar healed to almost perfection, and her soft features were hidden by a harsh predatory visage adorned by a crown of bones and wings.
{I'm Varang Matriarch of the Ash People and Killer of Kind, why do a being such as you and your slaves dare to enter my domain? What might have sparked the interest of someone like you to put yourself in such a precautions situation?}, she said with a light purr, her claw trailing down Liam's chest, the fingers moving between the hair and defined muscles as if he was a piece of meat while her tail flicked close to his feet.
He stood still like a wall, his gaze of cold silver, blue, and purple locked onto her amused brown-slitted eyes. There was more than amusement, arousal, and very well-hidden terror.
He could see what game she was playing and it didn't amuse him nor interest him even if it didn't seem to be all a farce.
The atmosphere was heavy and the tension was rising and reached a breaking point as the post-human grabbed Varang's hand on his chest, if he didn't the All-Mother would have caused the Na'vi an aneurysm.
{To build the third and last Obelisk upon those ground.}, he said steadily, voice deep unflinching as he stood his ground.
{Oh… How disappointing. Where exactly shall this abomination be created?}, she said while her other hand moved to his trimmed beard but he caught it instantly this time making his displeasure known by putting a bit of force behind it.
{In this area you are standing on, in the middle of this Hometree. This is the reason I have come here.}, he said his glare intensifying, his eyes glowing this time her mask cracked but it was too fast for only him to notice.
"This is oddly civilized…", Grace murmured to Jake's ears who only nodded not knowing what to have aside from the overall strangeness both barely capable of following the discretion.
{Why do I deserve so much disappointment? Ah but it was to be for your kind, Demon of the Sky, a trade can be made, however. Would she or he need to be unburdened of you? Their use is low for your goal, their quality only in aesthetics, what other reasons would they be behind but as a gift? If so then I might let you do as you desire, with a bit more...}, Varang let out with a fanged smile pointing a dainty clawed finger at the two Avatars behind attracting the attention of everyone on them.
The response came in a heartbeat from Liam, this time with a clear hint of anger, {No.}
{Truly disappointing but I'm generous and two of you can leave and never come back.}, she said with sadistic glee, the mask parting away, her smile ever present while the most armed and trained of the crowd approached the trio.
{Then so be it. I have only come here to infor-}, his speech halted, his eyes bulged out as he raised his chest with a visage of agony, his heart felt like it was going to explode and he spat blood and tissues on her face.
'Fucking shit that hurt!', Liam's mind was ablaze and he grasped his chest while he put himself on one knee to avoid falling. This wasn't the first time, it happened two days before this incursion but it was far less intense.
There was a long silence, Grace and Jake stared at the scene, their minds shaken by what happened. The pillar of their future, the immovable force of nature on his knee for support, his breathing pained and in a state far, far worse than he had let on.
However… Varang laughed at the sight, licking the almost black blood with little care around her lips like it was the most succulent of beverages, it was the richest blood that had the honor to be drank by her.
{You are dying, how quaint, how surprising, how fascinating, how beautiful. All of that bravado and courage for this… Still, I can use you for the capacity of living while your heart still beats blood in your veins.}, she declared mirthfully grabbing the post-human chin that oddly felt like cold steel, her body frozen as confusion turned to growing horror.
{I have tried, I have truly tried to be patient, to be civilized. I have truly tried, Varang. But as you have said… Your kindness only brings disappointment. Know that your death will bring me little satisfaction, your existence is unwanted. My mate shall take care of your punishment in the afterlife.}, the deep and pained voice of Liam having gained a metallic quality amplifying the anger behind echoed in the entirety of Hometree.
He began to hover with his Tek Chestplate while the centermost part started to glow blue and from his left hand, a silvery liquid began to flow outward.
The_Bip_Boop2003
Hello, diplomacy no more. Nobody can say he didn't try hard enough barring mind control and coercion but that's not truly diplomacy is it not?
Bye-bye!
https://pin.it/2MqsZ7Bvb
My Patreon if you want to give me money and have chapters I have finished in advance, around 23.
Patreon
Liam approached the Na'vi holding the clothes for them, she didn't even flinch at his presence, she didn't even seem to notice. It was like she was on autopilot, her head void of any thought, frowning at this he took one of the loincloths given.
He didn't need and didn't want to know what her memories were and also it was beyond what he deemed acceptable as hypocritical as that was, so Eywa didn't give him knowledge of what obviously happened to this girl. He was holding a lot of anger and this would likely tip him over the edge and he already knew he would kill.
Still, it was a sad sight but it wasn't the time nor the place to try and comfort her, he lacked context as well but he was sure there was little this could give to excuse what happened to her unless she had been an absolute maniac that is a baby but that was ridiculous.
The poor things seemed to be deeply broken both physically and mentally, aside from a complete mindwipe and full body recovery he didn't know how to help.
Mercy killing was an option too but that was the lazy way out in this situation, not that it would be his problem to begin with and so not for him to decide. He wasn't a hero and she wasn't entitled to his time, only his mate was, what he could do however was give her the possibility to heal after he had done what must be done.
The piece of tissues disappeared in his inventory and before all without any kind of shame he placed his left hand around his waist, light bent all around his form and the Tek Armor vanished with of course all of the layers he was wearing below.
And so in front of many eyes, he became naked in all of his glory, but it was for a shorter time than the time for a neuron to fire a message to another as such for them he just instantly switched clothing, it was a very useful trick with his inventory.
This shocked the two other Na'vi that had placed the box, another gaze however was far more intense for vastly different reasons. He was being scrutinized, every centimeter of his body, muscle by muscle by none other than the one he didn't put into a Cryopod.
But he ignored it, being an object of lust while both insulting and complimenting wasn't new for him, even if it was from a Na'vi who tended to be more open.
Though… Laìo wasn't the only one to stare but for different reasons, aside from his physique, the muscles, and the general shape of his body to be exact there was the fact that a third of his skin was not present, instead, blue energy with violet and deeper blue veins replaced it.
"I kinda understand how this seemed to be such a pressing matter…", Jake said with genuine worry, the joke that his friend was turning blue flashing briefly in his mind.
"It's the tip of the iceberg, trust me. Many of my organs cannot function properly.", Liam said, picking up the remaining clothing of the Na'vi girl before throwing them at his two companions for them to change as well.
Without looking back he walked to the box in the middle of two other Na'vi, their reaction was far more vivid than the girl but they stayed still like trained dogs, tails between their legs and ears flattened. Yes, trained but badly treated dogs that was what they made him think of, slaves would be another denomination.
His face was emotionless in front of it, which was not the case inside but that was the same then for the girl, they were going to be given the chance to heal after this entire ordeal not that his cynics would let him believe they would ever be functional beings.
The three weren't just slaves or pets, they were toys. It was sick but it was the grim reality and he was certain they were chosen as a way to intimidate, most of their 'slaves' shouldn't look this bad since even freaks like them should understand broken things beyond repair don't work quite well.
Luckily it was an extremely uncommon practice on Pandora but the Ash People weren't the sole group with slaves, they were the most depraved and focused on it however.
'And to think some people think we are so different.', Liam thought as placed his Tek Armor, Tek Phase Gun, and a bunch of Cryopods with a bit more useless things to show how he 'complied' with them but it was like stealing the candy of a baby if even easier, he was just studying them for himself.
Fiddling with her 'clothes', a strap of leather for the top and another with tattered loincloth for the bottom Grace's face was conflicted and she said, "Since neither I nor Jake can magic our clothes would it be possible to have some privacy?"
"I will see but don't bring your hope for the birth to say.", Liam said and asked Laìo the answer came as he predicted, negative and overflowing with arrogance.
But of course, he didn't come here to be folded backward, it was also the case for his friends, the one with absolute authority was not these primitive savages, it was him a walking and breathing unstoppable force of nature.
He was accommodating them by their 'standard' to at least see how the situation would evolve even if he didn't delude himself.
They were lucky he was an EXTREMELY patient man, generally a pacifist, and that there were innocent individuals in their group because if not then necks would have snapped backward at sharp and unnatural angles.
'Honey, can you work around this? Without blood that is.', he said telepathically through the bond with his mate.
'My love, of course, with pleasure We can and We will… But are you certain you do not desire me to sever their Minds, and Souls from their Bodies, ending this conflict? Your state, it is less than acceptable… We are worried and We cannot waste time. My children mayhaps they are but not all life are equal.', was the response that greeted his mind and with a huff and a mental smirk he sent.
'Yes it is and violence would ease things through, that is certain… But it's not the first option I want and such an end would be too easy for them and it's a bit of a drastic solution. Heavy mind control is out as well, you know how I feel about it and it's not a must. They will simply suffer the adequate consequences of their actions.', he sent back, this was why even if he didn't have technology beyond mortal understanding he wouldn't have worried and this protection extended to Grace and Jake.
'As you wish, then We will give the intimacy your mortal companions desire. We will watch carefully and hope for your swift return to my Avatar.', she said and after those mental words the eyes of Laìo and every Na'vi glazed over and their eyelids sealed shut.
She understood why he acted this way, rationality turning into irrationality in front of excessive irrationality due to his mortal morals. It wasn't bad, but it shackled him in many ways and there was no forcing it. He will change and she will as well.
And this was due to these morals that the two of them were in such a relationship.
"Wha-okay then… Thank you for whatever happened.", Grace said, not blind to the sudden shift in all but their group, it was creepy and she knew it was from a power above her comprehension.
Maybe technology that affected the mind? She didn't know and she didn't want to but it wasn't an unheard concept in the study of Psionic. She and Jake used this chance to switch clothing and that was it, which for the latter wasn't so much needed but for her… Well, she deemed it so and wouldn't have budged.
At the exact same time, she finished changing and was placing her stuff in a neat pile in the box after Jake who finished minutes before all the Na'vi snapped back to reality, acting as if nothing ever happened.
{Follow me.}, Laìo said smirking, a clawed finger waving for them to follow within the dormant Hometree.
'Adorable she thinks she is in control.', Grace thought with disdain following begrudgingly behind Liam but she found very amusing the sheer arrogance emerging out of the grey-blue Na'vi and her incessant change of mood.
The inside was quite similar to that of the ancient Hometree of the Omatikaya bringing both pleasant and unpleasant memories to her and Jake but it was clear it was not the same.
There wasn't this feeling of comfort, family, and equilibrium built into the very tree, instead, a pungent smell reeked everywhere, rotting flesh, and moisture stayed in a confined space for far too long, and many more forbidden such as notably one born out of coupling. The two might even say it was arguably worse than on Earth.
Structures made of bones, stone, and mud replaced the full ones of branches and woven fibers Na'vi were masters in, this structure was built one atop the others with no particular chance or planning as they grew higher and higher like a hive.
Another facet that reminded the two of those dreaded megalopolises where billions and billions of people lived on top of each other in a never-ending tower that went deep underground, each lower level worse than the last.
Close to half a thousand pairs of eyes locked onto them from every corner, it would be almost intimidating if either Liam, Jake, or Grace weren't who they were or feared for their lives.
Thi didn't go unnoticed, not even after the main entrance was sealed off by a large circular wooden door that works through a pretty ingenious system of pulley and gears. The three of them were then escorted deeper, their gaze lingering on everything as they studied their environment, the most blatant aspect was the presence of a strict caste system.
There were 'normals' with varying nuance and 'slaves' with also some nuance, it was evident from the number of scars, bodily damages, body types, clothes, demeanor, and eyes.
A tidbit Liam found both infuriating and hilarious was that the clothes they were given were that the 'slaves' wore and if that wasn't an untold statement to how little they were considered as.
In the end, being considered equal to slaves by them was better than an equal period, who would want to be compared nevertheless be held with esteem by such individuals? It was comedic for him to think they thought their approval seemed to matter if the specifically chosen clothes were any indication.
Even with their calmness at the start the fact the three of them still didn't show fear or even nervousness caused a growing confusion in the crowd parting before them, the most emotional of the group being Grace and the only emotion she was showing under a somewhat good poker face was disgust and smoldering fury.
For Liam and an extensively lower-level Jake, his mere gaze was enough to make some flee or at the very least break eye contact and flinch showing the cowardice hidden by the power of being in a crowd. It was understandable, he wasn't the most friendly-looking guy being taller than most of them and far more bulky than any others.
"Tyrant of Steel!", broken English in a feminine and authoritative voice laced with venom reached their ears as the one source of it advanced swiftly toward them.
She was a tall and athletic Na'vi, her pale blue-grey skin scarred in many parts yet blemishless, the scar healed to almost perfection, and her soft features were hidden by a harsh predatory visage adorned by a crown of bones and wings.
{I'm Varang Matriarch of the Ash People and Killer of Kind, why do a being such as you and your slaves dare to enter my domain? What might have sparked the interest of someone like you to put yourself in such a precautions situation?}, she said with a light purr, her claw trailing down Liam's chest, the fingers moving between the hair and defined muscles as if he was a piece of meat while her tail flicked close to his feet.
He stood still like a wall, his gaze of cold silver, blue, and purple locked onto her amused brown-slitted eyes. There was more than amusement, arousal, and very well-hidden terror.
He could see what game she was playing and it didn't amuse him nor interest him even if it didn't seem to be all a farce.
The atmosphere was heavy and the tension was rising and reached a breaking point as the post-human grabbed Varang's hand on his chest, if he didn't the All-Mother would have caused the Na'vi an aneurysm.
{To build the third and last Obelisk upon those ground.}, he said steadily, voice deep unflinching as he stood his ground.
{Oh… How disappointing. Where exactly shall this abomination be created?}, she said while her other hand moved to his trimmed beard but he caught it instantly this time making his displeasure known by putting a bit of force behind it.
{In this area you are standing on, in the middle of this Hometree. This is the reason I have come here.}, he said his glare intensifying, his eyes glowing this time her mask cracked but it was too fast for only him to notice.
"This is oddly civilized…", Grace murmured to Jake's ears who only nodded not knowing what to have aside from the overall strangeness both barely capable of following the discretion.
{Why do I deserve so much disappointment? Ah but it was to be for your kind, Demon of the Sky, a trade can be made, however. Would she or he need to be unburdened of you? Their use is low for your goal, their quality only in aesthetics, what other reasons would they be behind but as a gift? If so then I might let you do as you desire, with a bit more...}, Varang let out with a fanged smile pointing a dainty clawed finger at the two Avatars behind attracting the attention of everyone on them.
The response came in a heartbeat from Liam, this time with a clear hint of anger, {No.}
{Truly disappointing but I'm generous and two of you can leave and never come back.}, she said with sadistic glee, the mask parting away, her smile ever present while the most armed and trained of the crowd approached the trio.
{Then so be it. I have only come here to infor-}, his speech halted, his eyes bulged out as he raised his chest with a visage of agony, his heart felt like it was going to explode and he spat blood and tissues on her face.
'Fucking shit that hurt!', Liam's mind was ablaze and he grasped his chest while he put himself on one knee to avoid falling. This wasn't the first time, it happened two days before this incursion but it was far less intense.
There was a long silence, Grace and Jake stared at the scene, their minds shaken by what happened. The pillar of their future, the immovable force of nature on his knee for support, his breathing pained and in a state far, far worse than he had let on.
However… Varang laughed at the sight, licking the almost black blood with little care around her lips like it was the most succulent of beverages, it was the richest blood that had the honor to be drank by her.
{You are dying, how quaint, how surprising, how fascinating, how beautiful. All of that bravado and courage for this… Still, I can use you for the capacity of living while your heart still beats blood in your veins.}, she declared mirthfully grabbing the post-human chin that oddly felt like cold steel, her body frozen as confusion turned to growing horror.
{I have tried, I have truly tried to be patient, to be civilized. I have truly tried, Varang. But as you have said… Your kindness only brings disappointment. Know that your death will bring me little satisfaction, your existence is unwanted. My mate shall take care of your punishment in the afterlife.}, the deep and pained voice of Liam having gained a metallic quality amplifying the anger behind echoed in the entirety of Hometree.
He began to hover with his Tek Chestplate while the centermost part started to glow blue and from his left hand, a silvery liquid began to flow outward.
The_Bip_Boop2003
Hello, diplomacy no more. Nobody can say he didn't try hard enough barring mind control and coercion but that's not truly diplomacy is it not?
Bye-bye!
https://pin.it/2MqsZ7Bvb
My Patreon if you want to give me money and have chapters I have finished in advance, around 23.
Patreon
