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"Okay, I'll be right there." Raktxo sat silently for a moment after the call ended, then stared blankly at his catch.
You can say that Raktxo was completely done with fighting the RDA, and every time he had to lead them and carefully think out strategies so that all their efforts wouldn’t be in waste.
Raktxo sighed and walked over to Storm, who was watching him. Raktxo stroked Storm’s head and whispered, “Come on, Storm. Pandora needs us.”
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"What's up this time?" Raktxo asked as soon as he walked into Resistance HQ and saw Priya, Alma, So'lek, and his friends gathered around the hologram table.
"Look! There’s unusual activity around Waterway Valley. I suspect the RDA is building a facility that could disrupt Pandora’s waters ecosystem," Priya explained, pointing to a spot on the holographic map. Raktxo stepped forward and examined the spot Priya had pointed to. "And several rivers east of Kinglor Forest appear to be dry, numerous animals and plants there have also died due to a lack of water sources," Priya continued, explaining what was happening.
"Why would they do that? They can't drink water from Pandora, can they?" Raktxo looked at Priya in surprise, because as far as he knew, humans had their own supplies for food and drink. "After doing some research, they use it as a source of water power." Priya added.
"So, you want me to destroy the RDA facility and restore the waters ecosystem in the east of Kinglor Forest?" Raktxo asked, looking at them all, because he sensed that they wanted him to do that. Everyone around the table simply nod. Raktxo just sighed and left them to prepare a strategy for destroying the facility.
"Raktxo!" Raktxo turns towards the voice calling him; it turns out to be So'lek, with Teylan tailing him. "You don’t have to do all this alone—I’ll help you figure out a strategy and take down the RDA facility together." He listens as So'lek speaks. "And I’ll help too!" Teylan quickly adds. "Thanks, guys." Raktxo gave them both a faint smile, and they left to work out a strategy.
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Even with So’lek and Teylan’s help, he really didn’t want to go and destroy the facility. If he could be selfish, he’d love to just leave with Strom and never have to deal with the RDA—or anyone else—again. But he couldn’t, because if left alone, the RDA would destroy every ecosystem in Kinglor Forest.
"... So what do you think? Can you do it?" There is no answer to So'lek’s question. "Raktxo... are you okay? You look pale." So'lek immediately looks away from Teylan’s tablet and turns to Raktxo. "Oh, yeah, I’m fine. It’s a good plan, but I want to rest now. We’ll continue tomorrow.” Raktxo quickly stood up and left the two of them, who were left confused.
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"Aha, I knew I’d find you here!" Raktxo was surprised to hear that and immediately looked to see who had come. "Hi, Teylan, sorry for making you worry." Raktxo greets Teylan, then looks back up at Pandora’s starry night sky.
"How did you know I was here?" Raktxo asked when he felt Teylan sit down next to him. "You never go to sleep this early, so something must be wrong. Then I saw your bed was empty, so I knew for sure you were here,” Teylan explained cheerfully. Raktxo always enjoyed being around Teylan—not because he didn’t enjoy being around others, but simply because Teylan had a unique energy that made him feel more alive.
“Do you want to talk about what happened before? I’ve heard that sharing your thoughts with others can make you feel better.” Raktxo laughed at Teylan’s words. “I don’t know, Teylan. It’s been five years since we left TAP and started living as Na’vi, but life just feels like the same old routine. Making strategies, fighting the RDA, winning battles, and the cycle just keeps repeating. I’m tired of being asked to lead a mission or just come up with strategies to fight the RDA.” Teylan fell silent, listening to Raktxo’s words and reflecting—there was some truth to what he said. Ever since the RDA arrived on Pandora, the Na’vi’s lives had been anything but peaceful, and he shuddered in horror at the memory of what the RDA had done to his clan.
Raktxo closed his eyes and leaned his back against the tree, enjoying the night breeze blowing across his face. “If you don’t want to continue with this, you don’t have to.” Teylan took his hand and rested his head on his shoulder. “I can’t, Teylan. Don’t you see the faces of those who’ve put their hopes in me?” Raktxo replied, gently stroking Teylan’s hand. “This will be my final mission; I want to take a break,” Raktxo continued. The two of them fell silent for a moment and gazed once more at Pandora’s night sky.
Teylan stood up and pulled Raktxo’s arm. “Let’s go back inside and rest. We still have to figure out a strategy to destroy the RDA tomorrow.” With no choice, Raktxo stood up and walked inside with Teylan.
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The day Raktxo had been fearing finally arrived. He woke up very early to prepare the weapons he would take to fight the RDA, not forgetting the SID that Alex had made for him.
“Are you ready, Sarentu?” So’lek approached Raktxo, who was attaching the gear to Storm. “Yeah, I’m ready, though this will take quite a while. Are you ready yourself?” Raktxo looked at So’lek. So’lek nodded and immediately climbed onto Ìley’s back. The two of them flew away from Resistance HQ and headed to the location where the problem had been reported.
During the flight, Raktxo could see that the RDA was indeed draining the rivers in the eastern part of Kinglor Forest. That day, Raktxo was determined to destroy the RDA to its core.
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"Wow, the facility is bigger than I imagined. Why do they need a facility this big?" Raktxo was surprised to see the RDA facility, as it was just as big as the Laser Ore Processor Alpha. Raktxo and So'lek went to look for an entrance into the RDA facility, leaving Storm and Ìley behind.
"I’ll distract the soldiers, and you’ll go inside. Just like we planned yesterday," So’lek explained to Raktxo. Raktxo nodded and immediately did his job.
"Teylan, can you hear me?"
"Oh yeah, I can see your position now. You need to go to the Cooling Plant area first and shut down the systems there. There are three valves and one lever that need to be shut down."
Raktxo immediately headed to the Cooling Plant area. There wasn’t much to see there—it was mostly just large tanks and pipes used for waste disposal. The area was quite noisy, which made it easier for Raktxo to shut down the systems.
One area done, there were still three more areas to take care of. Raktxo continued his task and went to the Distribution Depot. According to what he had learned earlier, that area was crucial for the humans on Pandora, as that’s where they received their water and oxygen supplies.
Like the previous area, this one only contained large tanks holding water and oxygen supplies. Raktxo turned all the valves on the clean water tanks to drain all the water inside. After scanning the area, Raktxo found his next target: the oxygen tanks. He turned the oxygen tank valves and let the gas leak out. He immediately ran away from the area, not wanting to die from oxygen poisoning.
"Teylan, how many more areas do I need to take down?" Raktxo pressed his communication device.
"According to our plan, there are two more areas that need to be taken down."
"Copy that, Teylan."
Control Room. This is the heart of the facility; all control over every area and security is located here.
"Uhh... Teylan, the control room here is very different from the usual. What should I do?"
"Hmm... let me take a look. Ah, right! The RDA upgraded all the systems in this control room. I’ll help you so you can hack it more easily.”
“No wonder I don’t understand anything here.”
“Oh…! I found a file containing their plans!”
“And now it’s done! You can proceed, but stay alert when you’re about to open that sluice gates.”
“Good work, Teylan! Thanks!"
Raktxo immediately shut down all the security systems in the facility. Easy work! And now came the hardest part of the mission: opening the sluice gates.
"So'lek! I’ll need you when I open the sluice gates. You have to secure the area so no RDA soldiers can get in and try to stop us."
"Working fast, Sarentu? I’ll be right there."
When he arrived, he saw So'lek waiting for him. "Okay, I’m going to open this sluice gates valve, and you’ll cover me. One gate will take about 6 minutes." So'lek nodded and looking for the right position to protect Raktxo. "I’m going to open the sluice gate!" Raktxo turned the first valve, and the land there immediately started to shake, and the RDA alarms went off. From a distance, a group of RDA soldiers were seen coming to stop them.
Raktxo pulled out his sling staff and threw trip grenades and skunk palm pods in several directions to prevent the RDA from getting close. So’lek, on the other hand, unleashed all of his arrows at the RDA soldiers and destroyed the approaching hellhounds. One sluice gate was done; four more remained. The two of them repeated this process for about 30 minutes, and with just one more gate left to open, they could return to Resistance HQ.
Raktxo couldn’t wait for this mission to end so he could return to Resistance HQ and rest, but things didn’t go as he’d hoped. Suddenly, a loud 'crack' heared from the sluice gate. “Raktxo! There’s a problem with the last sluice gate. The piston is stuck, and you need to find the manual bleed valve to release the trapped air from the hydraulic cylinder! You have to do it quickly!” Teylan’s voice echoed from the distance. 'Shit, this is going to take a lot of time and is very risky,' Raktxo muttered to himself. “Can you tell me where it is?” Raktxo replied to Teylan’s call. “Sending you the coordinates.”
As if knowing what was on Raktxo’s mind, So’lek reassured him that he’d be fine left alone to face the RDA.
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Raktxo reached the final sluice gate. He shuddered in horror at the sight of the fast-flowing water and the ground trembling around him, caused by the jammed gate.
He leaped forward and wrapped his arms around the hot steel pipe. His blue body, usually neat and clean, was now smeared with black oil. The muscles in his arms tensed until they trembled, holding his weight to keep him from falling.
'For Eywa's, please move,' he growled, his voice barely heard over the loud roar of the water.
With hands trembling from exhaustion, he reached for the giant wrench hanging from his back. He struck the valve repeatedly.
Suddenly, a 'whisshh!' exploded right in front of his face. Trapped hot air burst out along with oil, splashing his face and chest. At that very moment, the piston jerked upward.
The sluice gates beneath his feet lifted slowly. Soon after, the water that had been held back now gushed out entirely. As if a swarm of living creatures, unable to wait any longer to escape.
Raktxo was panting; he leaned against the steel tube, which was now moving smoothly. His eyes gazed at the water beginning to flow back into the rivers of the eastern part of Kinglor Forest. He managed to do it.
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Raktxo landed at one of the research labs after completing his mission. He should have been happy that he wouldn’t have to deal with the RDA for a while, and his friends would definitely be very proud of him, but for some reason, he didn’t feel that way.
“Raktxo, where are you? Why haven’t you returned to the Resistance?” Ri’nela’s soft voice came through his comms. “I’m in one of Alex’s research labs. I’ll return to the resistance tomorrow morning.” Raktxo immediately cut off communication with anyone from the Resistance; he was completely exhausted and desperately wanted to be left alone.
“It’s just you and me, Storm.” Raktxo stroked Storm’s head and closed his eyes.
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The sun was too shy to show itself, but Raktxo had already woken up and was looking around. He recalled what had happened the day before.
After pondering for quite a while, he stood up and looked for Strom. From a distance, he heard the sound of water; approaching the source of the sound, he found Storm drinking. He knelt beside Storm and drank from the river, which looked refreshing; he also washed away the dirt from yesterday. Feeling better, he was ready to return to the Resistance.
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"Raktxo! Where have you been? Why didn’t you come back to the Resistance yesterday?" Alma immediately bombarded him with questions as soon as he entered the Resistance. "I was resting at one of Alex’s research labs," Raktxo replied half-heartedly.
Just as Alma was about to ask more questions, he suddenly felt someone tugging at his arm. Ri’nela. She knew that Raktxo was not okay and immediately pulled him away from Alma.
“I know, Raktxo. I know this isn’t easy for you—five years fighting the RDA and working out strategies. It all feels exhausting, and you can’t get any proper rest.” Ri’nela gently stroked his arm; it felt incredibly soothing. “Teylan told me. You don’t have to carry that burden anymore; we’ll handle it together in the future, ” Ri’nela continued. Raktxo, who had been holding all those feelings inside for so long, finally broke down in front of Ri’nela. “Let it out. I am not going to tell you to stop until you feel better.”
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After spending two hours with Ri’nela to let out everything he’d been holding in, Raktxo felt much better. He was ready to meet the Resistance members and his friends.
“Good job, Raktxo!” Priya congratulated him, followed by several other Resistance members. Raktxo thanked them and continued on his way to meet So’lek and Teylan.
“Raktxo! I was so worried about you—I didn’t know if you’d survived that mission, and you’d cut off communication with the Resistance.” Teylan jogged over to Raktxo and hugged him. “Of course I’m alive! I was just too exhausted yesterday and decided to rest at one of Alex’s research labs.” Raktxo hugged him back and answered cheerfully.
So’lek approached him and placed a hand on his shoulder. “Rest, Ma’eylan. You’ve done so much for the Resistance.” Raktxo smiled at So’lek’s words and hugged him in return.