Chapter Text
When I was lying there in the VA hospital, with a big hole blown through the middle of my life, I started having these dreams of flying. I was free.
Sooner or later, though, you always have to wake up.
His brother was the scientist, not him. Bumjoong was the one who wanted to get shot light-years out in space to find all the answers.
"It's about your brother." They had told him. Hongjoong knew it wasn't good news.
Seven days before Bumjoong's departure, a guy with a gun ends his brother's journey for the paper in his wallet.
One stupid robbery and the universe stole the only person who ever believed Hongjoong could be more.
"Your brother represented a significant investment. We'd like to talk to you about taking over his contract." They said. "And since your genome is identical to his, you could step into his shoes, so to speak."
"It will be a fresh start on a new world. And the pay is good. Very good."
Hongjoong looks up, the fire consuming his brother’s body reflecting in his eyes.
"Fine."
In cryo, you don't dream at all.
Kim Hongjoong opens his eyes as a strong blue light strikes his face. Feeling lost, he takes a look around the cryosleep pod*, the glass still fogged from six years of silence. It doesn't feel like six years. More like a fifth of tequila and an ass-kicking. His breath trembles as he tries to remember how he ended up there, he barely remembers his own name. With a slow, shaky inhale, he gathers what courage he can, pushing himself toward the edge of the claustrophobic chamber.
Desperate to feel real air on his skin again, he opens the cryo and slowly pushes himself upright, nearly tipping forward as the gravity hits him harder than the tequila ever did. He feels his back hurt a little due to being in the same position for six years. Nothing he couldn't handle.
"Are we there yet?" He asks to the first person he sees, desperate for any scrap of information. His voice comes out unfamiliar, which was to be expected.
"Yeah, we're there, sunshine." The scientist answers. Finally, he thinks as he waits for someone to pull him out of that place.
He was starting to see more clearly, confusion fading away as his senses snaped back into place. He looks around watching several others in the same disoriented state, all blinking awake inside their pods. Hongjoong wondered what reasons had brought them here, what stories they had. What could have led them to end up here.
Suddenly, a loud voice snaps him out off his thoughts.
"You've been in cryo for five years, nine months and 22 days." A loud voice echoes through the spaceship. Hongjoong unclips himself and immediately drifts off the pod like a balloon. The lack of gravity lifts him gently into the air. "You will be hungry. You will be weak. If you feel nausea, please use the sacks." The man continued as Hognjoong started grabbing whatever he can to pull himself along in slow, clumsy motions. With every push, the voice echoing through the ship grows more distant, fading behind him.
Yeah, Bumjoong was the scientist. Me, I'm just another dumb grunt going someplace he's gonna regret. Hongjoong thought as he drifted away from the crowd.
Up ahead was Pandora*. He grew up hearing about it, but he never figured he'd be going there.
It had always existed in stories, in warnings, in rumours, in the quiet awe of people who spoke of it like a place both sacred and cursed. A world so beautiful it didn’t feel real, and so dangerous it barely felt survivable.
Now it wasn’t a distant idea anymore. It was right there, waiting for him.
Hongjoong wasn’t on the big ship anymore. Now he was crammed into the transport that would haul him the rest of the way to Pandora. A bunch of people sat beside him, all wearing the same exhausted, half‑awake look, everyone just waiting to finally arrive. The air felt tighter here, buzzing with nerves.
"Exo-packs* on! Let's go! Exo-packs on!" He hears someone shouting from his left side, a clear warning that they were almost there. "Remember people, you lose that mask, you're unconscious in 20 seconds, you're dead in four minutes." Hongjoong immediately grabs the mask and puts it on his face. "Let's nobody be dead today! Looks very bad on my report."
Hongjoong lets out a deep breath as he feels the smaller ship descend, getting closer to the ground. He was close to find out what is Pandora, close to understanding what had fascinated his brother so much that it cost him everything. What would he become once he set food on that strange world? Did he really wanted to be here? Hongjoong’s mind was suddenly overflowing with questions, each one louder than the last. He was really going into this blind.
He remembered the fire consuming his brother’s body, the heat stinging his face. One life ends, another begins, he told himself that day.
"Harnesses off! Get your packs! Put it together, let's go! Let's go!" The shouting continued as the ship drew closer to the ground. "When that ramp comes down, go directly into the base. Do not stop! Go straight inside. Wait for my mark!" Hongjoong locked the instructions into his mind and finally felt the ship land. The massive door began to slowly opening with a heavy groan, the sunlight blinding him for a moment.
"Go, go, go, go! Get out of there! Keep moving! Let's go, let's go!" The people who had been sitting beside him shot to their feet and rushed toward the open door, forming a line with the instinctive precision of soldiers. Hongjoong watched them for a moment, then pulled his wheelchair closer. He lowered himself into the seat with practiced movements, guiding his unresponsive legs into place and adjusting his posture until he was steady. Then he grabbed his bag, set his hands on the wheels, and pushed forward, following the line of men. There's no such thing as an ex-Marine. You may be out but you never lose the attitude. Hongjoong told himself he could pass any test a man could pass. They can fix a spinal, if you got the money, but not on vet benefits, not in this economy.
"Let's go, special case! Do not make me wait for you!" He hears one man approaching him but decides to ignore him. Back on Earth, these guys were Army dogs, Marines, fighting for freedom. But out here they're just hired guns, taking the money, working for the company. Hongjoong followed the crowd, his eyes catching on the variety of machines moving around the area, they looked nothing like anything from Earth. Truly out of this world.
He finally entered the building he assumed was the base and positioned himself near the wall, waiting for whatever instructions would come next.
Not long after, a tall marine crossed the room, his gaze sweeping over every single person gathered there. Three long scratch‑scars cut across his face, and he carried himself with the kind of confidence that came from surviving things most people never would. Hongjoong’s eyes narrowed slightly, he didn’t move, didn’t speak, just studied the man with caution.
"You're not in Kansas anymore." The man started talking. "You're on Pandora, ladies and gentlemen. Respect that fact every second of every day."
"If there's a hell, you might want to go there for some R&R after a tour on Pandora." The man stopped by the window at the end of the room and pointed outside. "Out there, beyond that fence, every living thing that crawls, flies or squats in the mud wants to kill you and eat your eyes for Jujubes." Hongjoong felt a shiver run through his body.
"We have an indigenous population of humanoids called the Na'vi. They're fond of arrows dipped in a neurotoxin that will stop your heart in one minute. And they have bones reinforced with naturally occuring carbon fiber. They are very hard to kill." The man begun to walk again "As head of security, it is my job to keep you alive. I will not succeed. Not with all of you. If you wish to survive, you need to cultive a strong mental attitude. You've got to obey the rules. Pandora rules."
Most of the room stiffened at those words. A ripple of fear, unease, and second‑thoughts passing through the new arrivals. But Hongjoong felt something entirely different rising in his chest. While others swallowed hard or shifted nervously, he felt a spark ignite. His fingers tightened on the wheels of his chair, and a small, uncontrollable smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth. Fear was expected. Excitement wasn’t. But he’d never been like the rest of them.
The meeting ended not much longer after that. Most people looked shaken, but Hongjoong felt more alive than he had in years.
He got out of the room, crossing the bustling hall, always observing everyone around him.
"Hey! Excuse me! Excuse me, Hongjoong!" A voice fought its way through the noise, cutting across the crowd as bodies rushed past in every direction. "You're Kim Hongjoong, right? Bumjoong's brother? Wow, you look just like him."
The man had finally reached him, now standing at his side. Hongjoong looked up and met his gaze. The stranger was tall, with broad shoulders, dark hair that fell slightly over his forehead, and striking, cat‑shaped eyes that seemed to take in everything at once. Hongjoong nodded in confirmation and continued on his path, pushing forward without slowing.
"Sorry, I'm San. Choi San. I went through avatar training with him." The man blocked his path, bringing him to a stop. He extended his hand, palm open and waiting. Hongjoong took it, their handshake brief but solid. "Let me take you to the bio-lab."
The bio‑lab was unlike anything Hongjoong had ever seen. Bright, sterile lights washed the room in a cold glow, reflecting off glass panels and metal surfaces. The air carried a sharp mix of disinfectant and warm machinery, a hum vibrating faintly through the floor and into the wheels of his chair. Scientists moved with practiced efficiency between workstations, tapping at screens, adjusting cables, murmuring to one another in clipped, technical phrases. Rows of massive incubation tanks dominated the space, each one filled with a soft blue fluid that pulsed gently with the rhythm of the machines. Thick cables ran across the floor like veins, connecting the tanks to the sleek link units on the far side of the room.
Hongjoong was taking it all in when San’s voice reached him from somewhere at his side, fast and excited, rambling about procedures and safety protocols.
But the moment Hongjoong’s gaze lifted to the tanks, everything else fell away. Inside them floated the avatars. Tall. Blue. Giant bodies suspended in liquid, their long limbs drifting weightlessly, their chests rising and falling in slow, artificial breaths.
They looked impossibly real, not machines, not experiments, but living beings caught in a dream. San kept talking, but Hongjoong didn’t hear a word anymore. His breath caught. His pulse kicked. The world narrowed to the sight in front of him.
For the first time since he’d arrived, he felt the full weight of where he was.
"The avatars are grown from human DNA mixed with the DNA of the natives." San said beside him, resting his hand proudly on the tank that held his own avatar. "Damn, they got big. We should be able to take them out tomorrow." He shot Hongjoong a grin, buzzing with excitement. "There's yours!" The tall man added, pointing toward a tank farther down the row.
Hongjoong turned his head and the breath left his lungs. Wow.
He slowly pushed himself forward, the wheels of his chair whispering against the floor. Each meter closer made the avatar feel more real. That face was peaceful, almost serene, as if dreaming. That face.
"Looks like him." He says out loud, smiling to himself.
"No", San said, stepping closer with a grin. "It looks like you." He gave Hongjoong a playful wink. For a moment, Hongjoong didn’t know what to say. The avatar’s face, his face, floated peacefully behind the glass, blue skin glowing. Seeing himself like that felt strange, surreal. He couldn't wait to control that body. "This is your avatar now, Hongjoong."
Suddenly, the quiet they’d had a moment ago shattered. Voices spilled into the lab, footsteps echoing against the metal floor as a group of people pushed their way inside. The atmosphere shifted instantly, now louder, heavier, charged with a new kind of energy. At the front of the crowd walked a man even taller than San, his presence filling the room before he even spoke. Scientists straightened and Hongjoong’s eyes flicked up, tracking the man’s approach. Whoever he was, he wasn’t just another technician or soldier.
"That’s Jeong Yunho." San pointed out. "He's the head of the Avatar Program. He may seem intimidating, but don't judge a book by its cover. You should go meet him."
San grabbed the handles of Hongjoong’s wheelchair without warning, steering him through the growing crowd with quick, confident pushes. Hongjoong barely had time to protest before they were weaving between scientists and recruits, heading toward the far side of the lab.
San stopped only when they reached Jeong Yunho. "Yunho, I'd like you to meet Kim Hongjoong."
"Oh! Hello there, nice to meet you, Hongjoong! You look just like your brother." Yunho bowed slightly, a warm and genuine smile spreading across his face open. The sudden friendliness caught Hongjoong off guard. He blinked, momentarily thrown by how bright Yunho seemed compared to the cold glow of the tanks and the tension still buzzing in the room. "How is your Na'vi?"
Hongjoong arched an eyebrow in confusion. "Na'vi*?"
Yunho blinked, then let out a soft laugh. "I mean the language. How’s your Na’vi coming along?"
San nudged Hongjoong’s shoulder lightly. "He hasn't started yet."
Yunho didn’t look disappointed. If anything, his smile softened.
"That’s alright. Most people don’t know a single word when they arrive," he said. "You’ll pick it up. It’s easier than it looks once you get the rhythm."
San crossed his arms proudly. "I already know how to say kaltxì."
Yunho snorted. "You know how to say hello. Congratulations."
San elbowed him. "It’s a start."
"I can help you both learn." Yunho said.
San grinned, nudging Hongjoong’s shoulder. "See? We’re getting VIP treatment." Hongjoong wasn’t sure if it was VIP treatment or just another reminder of how unprepared he felt. But with the two of them looking at him, Yunho smiling warmly and San buzzing with excitement, the weight on his chest eased.
"Thank you so much."
"Hey, Yunho! I need to talk to you!"
Hongjoong turned just as this person strode into the room.
He was impossible to miss. He was tall, just like Yunho, and moving with the kind of energy that made people step out of his way without thinking. His white hair was tied back loosely, a few strands falling over his forehead as he walked, and his sharp eyes scanned the room with quick, restless focus.
There was something intense about him, not unfriendly, just… loud, even when he wasn’t speaking.
He stopped beside Yunho, tapping a tablet against his palm, clearly impatient.
"Alone." The tall man said before walking away with confidence.
Yunho let out a sigh and turned to look at the other two. "That was Song Mingi, he has... a peculiar personality. " Yunho turned around. "I'll be right back. San, will you join me?"
San glanced back at Hongjoong with that familiar spark in his eyes. "Going. See you later, Joong."
He added a quick wink, then spun on his heel and jogged after Yunho, boots tapping lightly against the lab floor. In a few seconds, both of them disappeared through the sliding doors, their voices fading into the hallway.
The room fell quiet again.
Hongjoong stayed where he was, the hum of the machines filling the space they’d left behind. Without San’s energy or Yunho’s calm presence, the silence felt heavier, leaving him alone with the swirl of thoughts he’d been trying to ignore. The avatar tanks, the language he didn’t know, the world he was about to enter.
Yunho stood at the center of the lab, arms crossed tightly as he stared at the holographic map hovering above the table. His jaw flexed with irritation.
"Yunho, you know. I used to think it was benign neglect, but now I see that you’re intentionally screwing me."
Mingi marched toward him, frustration written all over his face.
Yunho didn’t even look up. He waved a hand dismissively.
"Mingi, you know I enjoy our little talks, but I’m busy."
He tapped a few commands into the console, pretending to focus.
Mingi stepped closer, refusing to be ignored.
"I need a researcher. Not some jarhead dropout."
San, who had been leaning against a nearby wall, straightened with a small smirk.
"Well, actually, I thought we got lucky with him."
He shrugged, hands sliding into his pockets.
Mingi spun toward him, incredulous.
"Lucky? How is this in any way lucky?"
San pushed off the table and walked a few steps, gesturing animatedly.
"Lucky Bumjoong had a twin brother, and lucky that brother wasn’t some oral hygienist or something. A Marine we can use. I’m assigning him to our team as security escort."
Mingi threw his arms up, pacing in a tight circle.
"The last thing I need is another trigger-happy moron out there!"
Yunho finally lifted his head, fixing Mingi with a pointed stare.
"Look, Mingi, you’re supposed to be winning the hearts and the minds of the natives. Isn’t that the point? If you look like them and talk like them, then they’ll start trusting us."
Mingi stopped pacing, breathing hard.
"Relations with the indigenous are only getting worse."
San crossed his arms, leaning back again.
"Yeah, that tends to happen when you use machine guns on them."
Yunho shot him a warning glare.
San lifted his hands in surrender.
"Right."
Yunho stepped closer to Mingi, lowering his voice but not his intensity.
"Let’s use what we got and get some results, silly."
Mingi exhaled sharply, shoulders slumping as the fight drained out of him. He rubbed his forehead, muttering under his breath while San tried not to grin.
Mingi stood beside the open link pod, tapping a pen against his clipboard as he eyed the two men in front of him.
"So, how much link time have you logged?" Mingi said.
San straightened proudly, arms crossed over his chest.
"About 520 hours."
Mingi nodded, impressed.
"That’s good." Mingi points at the metal pod right next to him. "You’re in there."
He turned his attention to the newcomer. "Kim Hongjoong, you’re here. How much have you logged?"
Hongjoong blinked, gripping the wheels of his chair.
"Zip. But I read a manual."
Mingi froze mid‑note.
"Tell me you’re joking."
Hongjoong ignored the comment, eyes widening as he leaned closer to the sleek metal pod. Lights pulsed softly along its sides, the interior lined with cushions and sensors.
"This is cool."
"Let’s go." San clapped his hands once, eager.
Hongjoong pushed himself up from the wheelchair, muscles straining as he lifted his weight. Mingi stepped forward automatically, reaching out to steady him.
Hongjoong shot him a sharp look. "Don’t. I got this."
He hauled himself onto the platform and lowered his body into the pod, adjusting until he was lying flat. Mingi hovered beside him, arms crossed, frustration and concern mixing on his face.
"So you just figured you’d come out here, to the most hostile environment known to man, with no training of any kind, and see how it went? What was going through your head?" Mingi said.
Hongjoong stared up at the ceiling of the pod, breathing hard.
"Maybe I’m sick of doctors telling me what I couldn’t do."
Mingi paused, his expression softening. For a moment, he simply nodded.
Then he snapped back into instructor mode, leaning over the pod.
"Keep your arms in, hands in, head down. Down. Just relax and let your mind go blank. That shouldn’t be hard for you."
Hongjoong smirked, lifting his chin.
"Kiss the darkest part of my lily white-"
The pod door slid shut with a hiss, cutting him off mid‑sentence.
Mingi stepped back. "Initiate link."
Outside, Yunho approached the console, rolling up his sleeves.
"Alright, I’m going in." Yunho said to Mingi.
Mingi nodded, eyes fixed on the monitors as Hongjoong’s vitals stabilized and the link sequence began.
Inside the pod, Hongjoong felt the world tilt. A soft vibration hummed through the cushions beneath him, spreading warmth through his spine. His heartbeat echoed in his ears, then slowly faded as a strange weightlessness pulled at his senses. Colors flickered behind his eyelids, blue, white, then something deeper, like sinking into warm water.
His fingers tingled.
His legs… he could feel his legs.
A rush of sensation flooded him, overwhelming and electric, like waking up inside a storm.
The darkness cracked open.
He felt air filling lungs that weren’t his. Muscles he hadn’t used in years twitched awake. His tail brushed the ground. His ears flicked at sounds he’d never heard before.
A whole new body.
A whole new world.
Hongjoong gasped, the sound echoing in a throat that rumbled deeper than his own.
Everything was different.
Everything was possible.
And then his eyes snapped open.