Chapter 626: Forest Exploration
Ryo's rationale was precise: Asuka and Shinji Ikari, as EVA pilots, innately possessed physical conditioning, reflex arcs, and extreme-environment survival adaptability far exceeding ordinary humans; they were highly capable field operatives.
David was relatively green, but he learned quickly, his physique had undergone baseline biological augmentation, and he displayed a deep fascination with biotechnology. Venturing deep into the heart of Pandora's biosphere was an exceptional practical opportunity for him.
Lucy was assigned to technical support; her netrunning capabilities and hardware interface mastery translated well into wilderness environments—operating micro-recon drones, maintaining gear, and establishing localized communication relays.
The five were assembled before the Trailblazer. Looking at them, Ryo issued concise mission parameters:
"Primary Objective: Advance deep into the Omaticaya clan's operational territory and attempt to establish stable contact with non-hostile Na'vi individuals.
Secondary Objective: Gather direct empirical telemetry and telemetry data regarding the 'Eywa' consciousness field.
Operational Protocol: Avoid initiating combat. Observation and communication are your primary vectors. Rei Ayanami assumes squad command with field-decision authority."
Asuka was visibly displeased with taking orders from Rei Ayanami, but knowing that the taciturn girl possessed an uncanny knack for "communicating with people—or rather, aliens," she merely clicked her tongue and held her peace.
Shinji Ikari looked nervous, subconsciously clenching his fists. David and Lucy nodded solemnly to acknowledge the brief.
They carried no heavy armaments, outfitted solely with standard personal defense sidearms, survival gear, an extensive array of sensors and datalogs, along with harmless goodwill items—such as high-density nutrient rations and artificial crystals emitting a soft bioluminescent glow.
Lucy strapped on a specialized pack containing camouflaged micro-drones and comms relays, while David assisted in hauling biological sampling kits and medical kits.
With preparations complete, the five-person squad stepped beyond the secure perimeter of the outpost, marching on foot into the vast, luminous, and perilous jungle.
Their silhouettes were quickly swallowed by the colossal spiral trees and weeping luminescent tendrils.
Following the Whispers
Rei Ayanami took point, her footsteps light. Her crimson eyes constantly scanned the surroundings, relying not merely on visual acuity, but attuning her entire sensory apparatus to subtle ecological shifts—the ubiquitous "forest whispers."
Asuka followed close behind, maintaining vigilance while finding herself unable to resist the bizarre flora and fauna along the path.
Shinji Ikari walked in the center, looking somewhat guarded as he focused on matching the squad's pace.
David and Lucy brought up the rear. David curiously examined various plants, occasionally logging samples with his scanner, while Lucy kept her eyes fixed on the portable terminal, tracking ambient sensor feeds and the breadcrumb markers left behind.
To the five of them, this was a journey into the absolute unknown—their destination was the world of the Na'vi, an uncharted and hostile domain.
The first day deep within the jungle passed in disciplined silence and caution.
As squad leader, Rei Ayanami barely uttered a word. She occasionally halted, closed her eyes to perceive the surroundings for several moments, and then adjusted their bearing. Her navigation did not rely on physical maps or landmarks, but followed an invisible compass drawn from her perception of the bio-consciousness field.
This mode of leadership grated heavily on Asuka's patience.
"Hey, Rei Ayanami!" Asuka finally snapped after yet another sudden course correction. "Where on earth are we heading? You could at least give us a general heading! Wandering around blindly like this, when are we ever going to find those blue skins?"
Rei halted and looked back at Asuka, her red eyes placid.
"They are moving. The current of the consciousness field... points that way." She pointed toward a sector where the canopy was denser and the bioluminescent glow was visibly concentrated.
"Consciousness field currents?" Asuka frowned. "That's way too abstract! We need practical intelligence!"
"I trust Ayanami-kun's judgment," Shinji Ikari murmured, attempting to diffuse the friction.
"Hmph, of course you trust her blindly," Asuka retorted irritably.
David and Lucy watched from the side without getting caught in the middle of the pilots' argument.
Lucy murmured quietly to David: "Keep logging all telemetry and waypoints. If the team leader's sensory navigation proves accurate, this data will help us build a baseline navigation model based on biological signal grids."
David nodded, recording the readouts methodically onto his datapad.
Nightfall and the Beast
At dusk, the squad established a temporary campsite on a relatively dry knoll beside a stream.
Lucy deployed micro-seismic sensors and infrared perimeter alarms around the camp perimeter.
David gathered dry, non-bioluminescent branches to prepare a small hearth.
Just then, a faint rustling came from the brush along the flank of the campsite.
Everyone snapped to alert. Asuka raised her personal defense weapon—a high-precision electromagnetic crossbow—while Shinji Ikari tightened his grip on his sidearm.
The foliage parted, and several lemur-like Pandora creatures poked their heads out. Sporting wide eyes and glowing stripes, they observed the uninvited guests with curious gazes, seemingly drawn to the thermal signatures and unfamiliar scents in the camp.
"Stand down, they're just small critters," David whispered, mimicking Rei Ayanami's posture by slowing his breathing to avoid projecting hostility.
Asuka, however, found the small creatures disruptive. She made a sharp shooing motion and barked: "Get lost!"
Her sudden movement and sharp voice startled the creatures; letting out rapid chirps, they scrambled back into the underbrush and vanished.
Rei Ayanami looked toward Asuka and spoke calmly: "They held no malice. Your reaction... projects the wrong signal."
"The wrong signal?" Asuka shot back. "Should we just let them wander right up to us? Who knows if they carry pathogens or might suddenly attack?"
"Here, they are the masters," Rei's voice remained flat. "Excessive panic is just as dangerous as recklessness."
Before Asuka could reply, Lucy's terminal sounded a sharp proximity alarm.
"Large bio-signature incoming! Power readings... extremely high! Velocity is fast!"
The team instantly dropped into combat formation.
Across the stream, the tree line thrashed violently as a massive Direhorse—heavily armored in bone plating and built like an alien rhinoceros—burst through the canopy.
Drawn either by the panicked cries of the smaller fauna or the agitation projected during Asuka's confrontation, the beast lowered its massive hammer-shaped cranial crest. Emitting a low, guttural roar, it charged directly toward their campsite, its momentum carrying enough force to obliterate their temporary position.