Norm stood at the central workbench, gloved hands steady as he adjusted the magnification on a dissecting scope, peering at the delicate vein structure of a fan lizard wing. The specimen's iridescent membrane pulsed faintly under the LED array, alive even in death, a reminder that Pandora never quite stopped breathing.

He'd been up since 0400, running prelim scans on yesterday's water samples from the reef systems below; data that might help them understand how the Metkayina were adapting to shifting currents post-RDA incursions. Routine work. The kind that kept his mind from wandering too far into the what-ifs that still haunted the quiet hours: what if the sky people came back harder next time, what if Eywa's balance tipped too far, what if he never quite belonged anywhere anymore.

The door hissed open behind him.

Footsteps crossed the grated floor. Max had mentioned it last night over lukewarm coffee: the new xenobiologist from Earthside, finally cleared through quarantine and link certification. Someone to help shoulder the load since the team had shrunk after the exodus from Hell's Gate.

When Norm turned, the world did that stupid, cinematic thing where everything else blurred at the edges.

You stood just inside the threshold, datapad tucked under one arm, standard blue jumpsuit rolled at the sleeves. Your hair was pulled back in a practical knot, but a few strands had escaped, curling against the damp skin at your temples from the mountain humidity. Your eyes landed on him and held.

Norm felt his throat close. Just for a second.

"Morning," you said, voice warm, a little rough from the altitude adjustment. "I'm the new transfer. They said to report to... Dr. Spellman?"

He blinked and cleared his throat. "That's—yeah. That's me. Norm. Just Norm's fine." He wiped his gloved hands on his thighs even though they were already clean. "Uh—welcome aboard. Officially. We've been short-handed since... well, since everything."

Your gaze flicked around again, lingering on the fan lizard under the scope. "This place is incredible. I read the prelim reports on the way up, but seeing it..." You trailed off, shaking your head like words weren't enough. "The bioluminescence density alone—it's like the whole ecosystem is wired for light."

Norm felt something loosen in his chest. Not jealousy, not the old familiar sting he'd carried when Jake had stumbled into everything Norm had studied for years. This was different. This was recognition. Someone else who looked at Pandora and saw wonder first, not threat or resource.

"Yeah," he said softly. "It never gets old. Even after all this time." He gestured toward the scope. "Come here. Take a look."

You stepped closer and leaned in. Your shoulder brushed his arm as you adjusted the eyepiece.

The wing filled the view: delicate ribs of cartilage veined with glowing capillaries, pulsing in slow, hypnotic rhythm.