Abby strolled down the hallways, a tablet in hand as she inspected the new blueprint she had come up with. Since the air in the Ark was slowly degrading, she had come up with a possible solution... Earth. It had been ninety-seven years since a nuclear apocalypse had decimated the Earth, along with any inhabitants. She believed that the ground still simmered with radiation, but that it may be survivable. Looking at her blueprints studying the wristbands she had thought of, Abby was now determined to suggest her plan to the rest of the council. First, however, she decided to run the plan by Sinclair, one of her closest friends in engineering. A determined look on her face, she picked up her pace as she realized the next council meeting was in half an hour. Abruptly rounding the corner she ran into someone, immediately annoyed she regained her composure and did not even bother to look up as she muttered, with obvious frustration, "Watch where you're going next time." Abby stepped around this person and was about to continue walking until that person grabbed her elbow and turned her around. She whipped up her face, only to meet Councilor Kane's eyes. Seeing him, Abby cursed under her breath and murmured, "Oh, it's you." She boldly refused to avert her gaze as Kane studied her with a guarded expression. After what seemed like several minutes but in reality was only seconds, Kane pursed his lips, "Where are you heading off to so hurriedly, Councilor?" He flicked his gaze to her tablet, attempting to see what she was working on. Abby huffed, turning her tablet away from him as she bluntly stated, "You'll just have to wait to the meeting, Councilor." Roughly pulling her arm away from his grasp she returned his suspicious glare and spun around continuing on her mission.
It was time for the meeting, and Abby had already been reassured by Sinclair as he said her plan seemed valid. She walked to the councilor's meeting room a few minutes early, only to let her thoughts drift to disgust as she was about to sit across from her nemesis Marcus Kane. He was so... So irritating. He would always contradict her, as if Abby's fury amused him. She was lost in her negative thoughts as she opened the door to the empty meeting room, heading to her seat as she tried to push her thoughts away. Sitting down she peered at her tablet once more and attempted to organize her words into sentences that left no room for unwanted resistance against her theory. Before she knew it the door creaked open and other councilors came in nodding towards her in a friendly 'hello'. Soon everyone had taken their assigned seats and Thelonious Jaha, the current Chancellor, and one of Abby's friends, had thanked them for coming and went straight into business.
"We have approximately five months before the Ark runs out of oxygen. This meeting is held to present ideas, and whether you may think your particular idea is a stretch, please share it."
He looked around expectantly at the table of councilors and Abby figured this was the best time to present her idea.
"Actually, I believe I have a possible fix." All the heads swerved towards her, but she only looked to Thelonious to ask her permission to continue. Seeing Jaha nod to her, she started her speech.
"I am under the influence that the ideal option for our survival would be, Earth."
Doubtful murmuring began to spread across the table, only to be interrupted by the chancellor allowing her to state her case.
Looking around the table, locking eyes with Kane, Abby continued, "I know some of you may have doubts." Breaking their glare Abby looked around the table once again. "Yet, Earth may be survivable, and in our current state, it may be our best chance." Picking her tablet up she presented her idea.
"These wristbands are made to transfer one's vitals and conditions. If we were to supply them to someone heading to the ground, we could monitor their status to see if Earth really is survivable."
Kane cleared his throat, and Abby repressed a sigh, here comes the contradictory.
"Let's say your wristbands do work." He started in a level voice. "Do you really believe risking someone's life as a lab rat, is the right decision?" Abby opened her mouth to argue, but he continued. "Who do you plan on sending down there, Abby? Our own personnel, because I'm sure you would risk your daughter's life over theirs any day." He stated, his harsh tone laced with sarcasm.
Abby sat there, mouth agape and eyes widened as she replayed his words in her head. She slowly blinked and her surprise and hurt was immediately replaced with her overwhelming anger.
"You dare bring my daughter into this?" She started angrily, her voice slowly raising. "If I remember right, your the one who locked her up in solitary in the first place! Oh and yeah, of course I am going to send our personnel down to the possibly stable ground, Kane! 'Cause why would I want them to survive? It's not like I devoted my life's work to saving people... Oh wait! That's exactly what I did!" She spat at his face. Breathing heavily she crossed her arms and glared at him with such a stubborn intensity that the other councilors were still speechless and afraid to break the thick tension in the room. Finally, Thelonious spoke with a calm and gentle voice. "Abby." He chided, wanting her to look at him, turning her head to meet his eyes, he continued. "We all know your loss, and what you do to save our people everyday. We know you would never want to hurt anyone." Feeling a little triumphant as he agreed with her, Abby couldn't help but let her lips upturn into a small smile. "But," Jaha said as he was apparently not done... Abby's smile vanished. "Kane is right in a sense. Who do you plan on sending down there? Someone has to go, and we can't afford to send our doctors or farmers or workers." He could of continued, but Abby had pushed her lips into a firm line and he saw the gears working in her head. She lowered her gaze in front of her, unconsciously letting out an exasperated sigh. She quickly glanced to Kane who was keenly watching her with a slight raise of his eyebrow, and faint smirk tugging at his lips. She suddenly slammed her fists on the table, making everybody except Kane jump, as he expected her to do something irrationally violent. That only set her off more, and studying his face as his smirk dissipated and instead was replaced by a cold glare, she decided she had enough of this. Giving him one of her own glares -as her eyes flashed dangerously- she pushed herself out of her chair, and abruptly stood up,
"You know what?" She said curtly. "I think I'm going to go sleep on this." So, despite the pleading calls from the Chancellor, or the sound of his stern voice speaking with Kane, she did not turn around and instead rushed out the door heading for her quarters.
Closing the door behind her and typing the correct sequence to lock her door she finally allowed her emotions to get the better of her as a lone tear streaked down her face. Looking around the empty room, a silent sob wracked through her body, followed by many more. Tears blurred her eyes as she headed to the bed, barely kicking her shoes off in time before leaping into the blankets, crying her heart out. She had no one to comfort her... Not her daughter, not her husband. Abby sat like this for what felt like hours, not bothering to wipe her tears or try to console herself. That was until she thought back to Jake... Instead of crying new tears for her deceased husband she just felt broken. She had no more tears to cry for him, and she knew he would want her to be strong for Clarke. That was when she wiped her tears away and got up. She went to the restroom and decided it was best for her to calm down her mind with a shower. After about twenty minutes she felt a little more clear headed and went to grab her tablet from the spot she usually set it... Except it wasn't there. Abby realized in mild irritation that she forgot it at the meeting room. She figured the meeting had to of been adjourned, and as much as the thought of going back there haunted her, she needed that tablet. Quickly putting her hair in her signature braid, Abby opened her door and took a deep breath. You need to be strong. She kept telling herself over and over, as she walked to where her tablet was.
Soon Abby stood in front of the door to the meeting room and she noticed how her hand slightly shook as she hesitated to open the door. What are you doing? She asked herself. You are better than some argument with Marcus Kane. Too many times have you had them with him. A determined look passed over her face once more and she gripped the knob and opened the door. Confidently stepping in, she at first saw no one present in the room, but then as she arrived closer to the table she saw a figure propped against the wall near the back of the room. She shuddered, the black hair along with the tense and cold nature of the man gave him away. Marcus Kane leaned against the wall looking down at the multiple papers in his hand, seemingly too invested in his work to have heard or noticed Abby in the room. She hoped, no, she prayed, that he wouldn't see her in her current state. Any other person would not notice the sad gleam behind her eyes, or her slightly flushed cheeks as a result of her intense crying, but Marcus Kane most definitely would. She softly picked up her tablet and turned around, trying to walk on the tips of her toes to get away soundlessly. She was so close! All she had to do was reach for the door knob and her mission would be complete! Of course, however, a voice behind her made her jump and goosebumps prickled her skin as she froze.
"Abby?" Kane looked at her suspiciously, but his voice was just that, no intended harshness, yet , Abby thought.
"Just forgot something." She said without looking at him, gesturing to the tablet in her hand, desperately trying keep her voice from cracking. "I'll just be on my way then." She quickly urged herself forwards and grabbed the door knob, but hearing footsteps behind her made her freeze... She urged herself to keep going, but her body refused... Then, Kane was right behind her, and Abby was pretty sure her heart stopped. His hot breath tickled her neck as he spoke with a surprisingly benevolent tone.
"Are you okay?"
Abby's body tensed and she shuddered as her hand shook on the door knob. It was really unlike Kane to be interested in someone else's well being, and honestly, that scared her a lot more than she would admit. Especially because of how close he was to her at the moment. But as she thought about what he might be thinking, she realized that she was never scared, or never appeared to be... He was probably worried that she was sick or something. Abby couldn't respond though, her voice was caught in her throat and she repressed a whimper as he slowly spun her around. She looked down trying to ignore his gaze at it was boring into her, studying her odd behavior. Then, of course, he knew.
"Have you been crying?" He asked mildly surprised.
She stood there uncomfortably, but she knew she couldn't act vulnerable, not here, not in front of him. So, Abby put on her brave face and met his searching gaze. Their faces were mere inches apart, yet the closeness appeared more as a silent challenge to each other, than anything else.
"That, Councilor Kane, is none of your business." She said, trying to act confident. Before he could say anything to her, she whipped around to the door and threw it open, rushing out to the hallway -with her tablet this time. Walking briskly down the halls to her room for the second time today, she was breathing rapidly. Why was he acting like he actually cared? She couldn't help but wonder... Maybe there as another side to him that she didn't know? Shaking her head she pushed that thought away as she entered her room and began to brainstorm ideas to fix the problem. Who would they send down there? Abby had a vague idea, but it wasn't exactly pleasant to think about.
