Blood Must Have Blood
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Author's Note: Thank you all for following for so long. I hope you've enjoyed the story up until this point. Sorry that I've taken so long to put this chapter up. It was somewhat difficult to write due to there being so many moving parts but I hope I got the rhythm down. Enjoy.
Jaha breathed out heavily as he stood over the grave of his son. The ground was covered with rocks so that no animals would dig up Wells. Clarke and Drake stood nearby and lowered their heads as well in respect.
"What happened to my son?" Jaha asked and Clarke stiffened before Drake rested a hand on her shoulder.
"He was killed by one of the 100. A little girl." Drake informed him although keeping the more grisly details hidden as both he and Clarke remembered Wells bloodied face and scared eyes.
"Why would she do that?" Jaha said with sorrow embedded deeply into his voice.
"Because she couldn't kill the man who killed her parents." Drake said causing Jaha to shake his head as he looked angrily at the ground.
"He didn't do anything! He didn't deserve this. My actions were that of my own." Jaha said stubbornly.
"You're wrong. You were the Chancellor. The man who held life and death with just one word. Did you really think that children were just going to understand what you've done? Did you think they would be rational and not hold Wells partly responsible for your actions?" Drake asked and the former Chancellor rounded on the younger man.
"Enough!" Jaha shouted angrily and Drake looked at him sympathetically. "Everything I've done, everything that's happened…it was for the good of the people. Their sacrifices." Jaha pointed at the other graves among his own sons. "Have led to now. We are on the Ground. Their deaths have to mean something." He said firmly.
"And they have." Clarke said as she stepped toward the former Chancellor. "We're making a home here. Drake's Crossing…Camp Jaha…they are home now. We're building on the foundations of everyone who has sacrificed their lives. If Wells was here right now he'd be proud of what we've done." She stated but Jaha just shook his head.
"You have no idea what my son would think." Jaha whispered and despite how softly he whispered it cut like a knife against Clarke and she flinched but stood firm as Drake touched the small of her back.
"What Wells would have thought or would have done is irrelevant." Drake said taking a commanding tone. "We are building a civilization Jaha. We are doing the best that we can." He said strongly.
"We can do better if we reach the City of Light." Jaha said and Drake once more stiffened at the name but Jaha continued as he eyed the young man. "They say there was a boy and a girl who came near the edges of the twelve Clans territory far to the West of here. The boy was an incredible fighter and he managed to take down a raiding party of the Azgeda. A feat that was hard for even the bloodiest of bloodied warriors. The girl beside him was heavy with child." Jaha paused as Drake leveled a heavy glare and the tip of his steel grey eyes smothered the words on his tongue.
"Enough Jaha." Drake said stoically and Clarke looked up at him confused.
"She was looking for the City of Light. The boy was her keeper, her lover, and the father of her child." Jaha continued but before he could say anything else Drake crossed the distance between them and punched Jaha heavily in the jaw the force of which caused Clarke to fear that Drake had killed the older man.
"I said enough." Drake said his face twisted into the snarl of an animal and Jaha spat onto the ground as he looked up at the towering beast.
"Don't you want to complete that journey?" Jaha asked as he watched Drake raise his hand in an angry fist but paused as he felt arms hug around his waist.
"Drake." Clarke spoke softly and Drake reigned himself in but the fury still burned in his eyes.
"Leave. Take who wants to go with you. Die in the sands. Never come back." Drake said and Jaha frowned as he stood up knowing that the battle was lost and left the two alone in the small clearing.
With the two of them alone Drake collapsed much to Clarke's surprise and she held him. Clarke watched as Drake slipped into his own world and tears streamed down his face but he didn't sob as his eyes relived a dark memory in the back of his mind.
"I'm sorry." Drake whispered as he finally came back to the real world.
Clarke said nothing as she knew he wasn't saying it to her but to some mysterious woman in his past. Someone…if the story Jaha had told were to be believed, had been very important to Drake. Did Drake have a companion she and the others had not known about? Did this companion carry Drake's child? If so where was she and where did she go? All this and more ran through her head but she said nothing as she held her lover close. This was his time to grieve and knowing him as much as she did it was probably the first time he had openly done it. As much as Drake opened up to her about his fears and worries, he rarely spoke about his time on the Ground and when he did it was in general statements. Clarke wondered to herself if Drake would ever tell her about this mysterious woman and what became of her but she wouldn't ask now.
The two stayed near Wells grave a little longer before finally finding the strength to stand and silently they made their way back to Drake's Crossing. The sun was setting and there was nearly no sunlight to make it back to Mecha Station. By the time they had reached Drake's Crossing, Drake had recovered enough to where it seemed his breakdown didn't happen. Not for the first time did Clarke admire the inner strength her lover had. When they entered their tent, which Bellamy had left intact, Drake simply stood in place. Carefully Clarke grabbed his hand and pulled him over to the bed where she laid him down and he followed her direction which led to him laying fully on his back with his head in her lap.
To Drake this all seemed so surreal. He was just waiting to wake up in the dark and sitting in the puddle of gore that had been…no…it was too painful to say her name. Still, he let Clarke do what she wanted with him. He had no strength to fight. Not right now. So he simply closed his eyes and let her run her fingers through his hair. To his surprise Clarke started to hum a song and not just any song but the same song he had sang when it was just the 100 on the ground on Unity Day. It was her song. Now…it was Clarke's.
"I love you." Drake whispered causing Clarke to pause in her comforting ministrations and a content smile appeared on her face.
"I know." Clarke answered as she leaned down and kissed his forehead. "I love you too." She whispered softly.
"Drake!" The panicked voice of Atom called out and immediately the atmosphere changed and Clarke watched as the broken boy reverted back into the man she knew he was.
Drake swiftly got off her and walked out of the tent where Atom was standing wide eyed.
"What is it?" Drake asked as Atom looked back toward the gates that surrounded the Drop Ship.
"Octavia and Bellamy and a guardsmen are coming back. They got Lincoln with them." Atom said hurriedly and suddenly the Blake Siblings and a guard ran through the gates with the familiar form of Lincoln in tow.
"Drake!" Octavia yelled half excited and half in surprise as their group ran up to them. "We got him!" She yelled out but Drake ignored her as he approached the still unconscious Lincoln who was dressed in what he assumed was Reaper Garb based on Charlotte's description.
"Why is he dressed like that?" Drake whispered coldly.
"We found him with the Reapers." Bellamy answered.
"As a prisoner?" Drake asked with a raised eyebrow but Bellamy shook his head slowly.
"As one of them." The guard, Scott, Drake remembered from training said grimly.
"Tie him up in the Drop Ship. Now." Drake ordered and the two men carrying the unconscious Grounder nodded as they brought Lincoln inside.
"Drake…what are you doing? He needs help. He doesn't need to be tied up." Octavia pleaded but Drake shook his head.
"Go to Mecha Station. Tell Abby to bring any sort of drugs she has with her." Drake ordered to the surprised Octavia.
"Wh-what are you going to do to him!?" Octavia shouted but Drake swiftly stepped closer.
"If I'm right then Lincoln has more things to worry about than being tied up. Get. Abby. Now." Drake ordered and despite her own fears she felt compelled to obey and gave the Drop Ship one last look before running out of the gates.
"Drake." Clarke called out as she stepped next to him and he turned to look at her.
"I need you to boil red seaweed and get as much medical supplies that we have to Lincoln." Drake said as he made to move toward the Drop Ship but was stopped as Clarke grabbed his arm.
"Drake what is going on?" Clarke questioned and Drake turned sharply on her.
"Clarke. Go do it." Drake stated calmly but even Clarke could see the look behind his eyes as he pulled away.
Maybe, it was because he never lorded his position over her that she had forgotten her place.
Maybe, it was because he acted softer around her and Raven and Anya that she had forgotten the steel in his eyes.
Maybe, it was just the soft living after the Ark came to the ground that she had forgotten who Drake Knight really was.
Whatever the case may be, Clarke realized that she had forgotten that while Drake was in many ways a broken man, he was still the most dangerous and powerful person she knew. Rivaled only by The Commander in terms of manpower, legend and fame. She was no fool. Drake had taken control of Mecha Station and while he wasn't the face of leadership anymore, her father and Kane listened to him as if the words he spoke were gospel. If he said to do something you did it.
While part of her was slightly miffed with being told what to do she brushed it off as her own brittle pride. Truth be told, while she had earned her own respect and position among the 100 and Mecha Station, she still answered to Drake Knight. Her leader. Her King. And her being his lover had nothing to do with that. When Drake was in charge he was in charge. With that last thought Clarke set about getting the medicine brewed and ready.
***Inside the Drop Ship***
Drake entered the second floor through the hatch in the floor and saw Scott and Bellamy finish tying up Lincoln. With a sigh he looked at the bloodied and thin wisp of the man in front of him.
"Is he good?" Drake asked as he stepped closer to inspect Lincoln.
"Yeah. Tied up nice and tight." Bellamy said with a nod.
"Scott, where are your men?" Drake asked but the look that fell on Scott's face said it all and Drake nodded somberly and placed a heavy hand on his shoulder. "I'm sorry." He apologized and Scott nodded.
"What are we going to do with him?" Scott asked.
"Hopefully fix him if we can." Drake said as he stepped closer to Lincoln and inspected his body.
"Fix him? The man was a raving lunatic! Bellamy tell him! You saw him!" Scott shouted out and Bellamy could only nod grimly.
"He's right Drake. It might be best we put him out of his misery." Bellamy suggested but Drake simply lifted the face of Lincoln to the left so that light would shine down on what he had seen.
"No…we can fix him. But…he'll probably die." Drake said as he stepped back from the groaning Grounder and moved back a few steps.
"Drake? What are you are talking about?" Bellamy asked suspiciously.
"The man is out of his mind on drugs. Heavy drugs. Probably incredibly addictive." Drake pondered as he scratched his chin.
"Are you saying someone did this to him?" Scott asked as he looked back at the slowly reviving Reaper.
"It makes sense." Bellamy whispered. "Drake, the device Clarke stole works! It disabled the Reapers." He said urgently.
"Good. We'll have Raven make more." Drake said with a grin. "And to answer your question Scott, yes. I believe so. On his neck is multiple injection points, combined with the fact that the device the Mountain Men had on him works on the Reapers just proves that Mt. Weather is creating them and has trained them to avoid the sound." He said with a satisfied nod just in time for Lincoln to regain his bearings and yank against his bonds as he growled like a rabid dog.
"Drake, what do we do?" Bellamy asked as he winced as the blood crazed Lincoln gnashed his teeth at them.
"Scott. Your stun baton." Drake requested with an open hand and numbly Scott handed the young man his stun baton and with a quick flip turned it on.
Without flinching Drake touched Lincoln's chest with it shocking Lincoln for ten seconds before pulling the stun weapon away. Lincoln leaned heavily on the nylon ropes as his body gave up on him and he fell back into unconsciousness.
"That's what we do. At least for now. I sent Octavia back to get Abby and whatever drugs she can. We're going to wean him off the drugs a little dose at a time. Once he gets over the majority of the symptoms he should be manageable without drugs. But that's where it gets dicey. Either he fights through and survives or dies." Drake said simply as he touched Lincoln once more with the stun baton long enough for him to calm down.
"You sound like you know a lot about this." Scott said looking curiously Drake who simply shrugged.
"I've seen my fair share of Junkies on the Ground and on the Ark." Drake said plainly.
***Mt. Weather***
"I'm tired of puking." One of the 44 complained to Miller and he nodded in understanding.
"I'll have Joyce take your spot next time." Miller promised but Holly frowned and shook her head.
"Miller….we want to fight. The 100 are growing impatient." Holly said bitterly.
"Not. Yet." Miller said with a frown and Holly wanted to defy him but thought better of it before nodding her head. "Soon Holly. We'll get you back to Atom and everyone else. But now is not the time." He said as he placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder and she gave a small nod in understanding as she went back to her bunk.
Miller frowned as he watched the seven grow into the fourteen. Nearly half their number. They could still fight. Drake had taught them how to fight through the pain and the treatments only served to fuel their fighting spirit. Now they just had to wait. Wait for Jasper, Monty, and Harper to get back with news.
***Drake's Crossing***
When the hatch opened once more Scott and Bellamy were sitting down as Drake stood by Lincoln with a shock baton at the ready. Slowly Octavia, Abby, Clarke, and to their surprise Anya climbed up the ladder.
"Lincoln." Anya called out as she approached the unconscious healer but Drake held her back with a firm hand. "Drake. Let me go." Anya whispered dangerously but Drake fixed her with stare just as heavy.
"He's not in his right mind right now. The Mountain Men made him a Reaper." Drake said and Anya looked down as she drew her sword on her back.
"I know." Anya whispered. "There is no saving him." She said as she looked up and Drake could understand how deeply she felt about the situation.
"We can save him Anya. Trust me." Drake requested and as much as every bit of knowledge screamed at her that there was no cure and every muscle fiber wanted to put her subordinate of his misery she found herself putting away her sword and taking a step back.
"Go." Anya said as she sat nearby and watched as Drake waved Abby forward.
"Drake, is this Lincoln?" Abby asked at the frightening visage of the man in front of her.
"Yes and right now his brain is soaked in a cocktail of drugs that have fried his higher brain functions. He's basically an animal." Drake said as he looked back at her. "Did you bring the drugs I asked for?" Drake asked.
"Yeah…but it's not much." Abby said worriedly.
"It's alright. We don't need much." Drake said as Lincoln regained consciousness and once more made to lunge against his bonds only to start convulsing.
"What is happening?" Octavia gasped out.
"It's the withdrawals symptom. His body isn't taking the absence of his medicine lightly." Drake whispered as the seizure ended and Drake zapped him once more, as Lincoln grew unruly, with the stun baton. "Change of plans. We tie him to the ground. Tight." Drake said as Lincoln went limp and quickly Scott, Bellamy, and Drake untied Lincoln and chained his body down to the floor of the Drop Ship.
"Drake…I think he stopped breathing." Bellamy whispered as he looked up at Drake and the whole room went still except for Abby who pushed Bellamy out of the way and began pressing on Lincoln's chest.
"Come on." Abby grunted as Drake held Anya back.
To Anya's complete and utter surprise Lincoln took in a deep breathe. It went against everything she had known. Lincoln was dead. Now…they had brought him back. The revelation that such a thing could be done stunned her into submissiveness as Drake sat her back down.
"Drake…how?" Anya whispered in disbelief at what she had seen with her eyes.
"I told you. We can save him." Drake said as he turned back to where Abby was pouring water from a cup full of boiled red sea weed into Lincoln's mouth.
***Mt. Weather***
Jasper, Monty and Harper entered the room and Miller called them over with a well-used card deck in his hands. Gratefully the three sat across Miller as he began to deal.
"So what did you find?" Miller asked with a smile on his face.
"We broke into the President's computer. They had pictures." Monty said as he groaned and laid his cards down.
"Pictures of Mecha Station. Of the Drop Ship. It's incredible." Harper said as she threw her cards in disgust onto the table.
"The 100 are alive. Drake is alive." Jasper said finally as he laid down his hand to reveal a straight hand.
"Fuck it. Then we start immediately." Miller said with a vicious grin as he laid down a royal flush.
***Outside Mt. Weather***
Two masked and protected men walked out of Mt. Weather's tunnels. One of them stepped assuredly while the other hesitantly stepped onto the grass.
"What are we doing here?" Wallace asked although slightly garbled by the hazmat mask on his face.
"I told you to trust me." Cage said and his arrogance was clear even through the suffocating mask.
"Son." Wallace said worry clearly in his voice but to his surprise Cage turned bare faced with a smile on his lips as he breathed in deeply.
"It worked." Cage said. "It's okay. You had the same treatment I did." He said encouragingly and with only a slight moment of hesitation Wallace lifted his mask and breathed in deeply as he walked forward into the small plain around them.
"I'd forgotten the smells." Wallace admitted as he turned and looked at his son.
"This is where we belong." Cage said slowly as he walked closer to his father. "You always told me that the surface was our true home. Not some concrete coffin." He said as he stepped next to his father and placed a hand on his shoulder breaking the elder Wallace out of his own little world.
"We have to go back now. We only have a few minutes." Cage said with sadness in his voice as he turned around and began walking away only to pause as he didn't hear his dad following him. "Dad?" Cage asked as he turned around to see his father taking one last look at the ground before turning back to him.
"Don't play with me son. What will it take to stay?" Dante asked grimly.
"Bone marrow." Cage said seriously. "All that they have." He said with a tone of finality.
"They'll die so that we can finally live." Wallace said bitterly as he turned around and smelled the flower in his hand deeply.
"This is our world." Cage said as he once again stepped closer to his father. "We deserve this." He said victoriously only for his father to turn on him.
"We are the Keepers of history. What we have done to the outsiders has corrupted our legacy…I can't go down that road any further." Wallace said before storming angrily toward the tunnel entrance.
"Dad! Dad!" Cage called out and his father turned at the entrance of the tunnel. "Please." Cage begged.
"The answer is no." Wallace said as he turned and walked into the tunnel and after a brief pause his son followed after him.
***Drake's Crossing***
Anya watched closely as Abby, and Clarke worked over Lincoln. The night had turned into day before she knew it but before her was a miracle. After all her tribe's efforts, years and years of attempts, Lincoln was somehow alive. It was the longest any of the captured Reapers had survived. Between Abby injecting something into his body and Clarke hydrating him Lincoln had finally fallen into natural sleep. His chest no longer moved up and down rapidly as if he were running. He shivered every now and then but it was nothing compared to the convulsions of a few hours before. And whenever he awoke he no longer tried to savage people but instead looked to be finally recognizing things before passing out once more. Drake sat by her side with his arm around her waist and comforted her through the whole night.
"Oc-ta-ia." Lincoln gasped out surprising the people in the room.
Octavia pushed off the wall she was leaning against and swiftly came to his side with tears spilling from her eyes. "Lincoln!" She cried out as she lowered her forehead onto his before he tiredly closed his eyes and fell back asleep.
"He's back." Drake whispered and Anya clung onto him like a lifeline.
"My people-they need to know!" Anya said urgently as he pulled her back.
"And we'll tell them soon enough. They arrive today." Drake whispered to her and Anya nodded readily.
***Mt. Weather***
They had thought them easy prey. Thought they were just two little girls backed into a corner. Now they were dead. Harper and Joyce stared at the two limp bodies of the guard members who had come after them. They had run to the maintenance room. The guards had thought they were going to try and lock them out so they pursued without using their brains. Little did they know that the two girls were luring in their prey. As the guards entered the room Joyce and Harper quickly stabbed them in the throat with their makeshift shivs and pulled them in by the front of their shirts inside the room. Blood covered their hands but as they watched the guards bleed out onto the floor they felt no remorse. Maya had done well. She had overheard and recorded Cage's orders. She was right. No one looks twice at the decontamination crew. She relayed Cage's orders to Miller and it was simple. Capture one of the 44.
"That was easy." Joyce said with a devilish grin.
"Very. Let's hope the others are doing just as well." Harper said as she grabbed the gun at the guard's waist and Joyce did the same thing.
All around Mt. Weather pairs of the 100 dispatched the soldiers loyal to Cage and anyone else deemed a threat.
***In Another Part of the Mountain***
"I guess my cooking skills are just too rusty." Holly pouted as she watched ten soldiers under Cage's orders moved weakly on the ground around the break room. "Ah hell, that's why. Sorry boys, I mixed up salt with my own little homemade concoctions." She said as she lifted up an empty vial with a apologetic look on her face.
"Alright, that act is creeping me out a little bit." Monty said as he lifted the head of one of surviving guards and sliced his throat open like Drake taught him.
"Can't a girl have fun?" Holly pouted.
"Nooooo." Monty said as he dropped the twitching soldier. "Now can you please help me?" Monty said annoyed at her lack of action.
"I made the poison and the food. You can handle a few "deaders" can't you?" Holly said as she inspected her nails.
"Bitch." Monty whispered as he stabbed his shiv into the base of the skull of the next soldier.
***In Another Part of the Mountain***
Jasper opened the door quietly as he stepped inside. The light from the hall gave him good visibility to see his next victim. With careful steps he made his way to the sleeping guard's bedside. He raised his shiv and brought it down only to be surprised as the guard caught his hand and struggled with the blade. Quickly, Jasper elbowed the man in the face over and over until it was covered in blood and the guard laid weakly gasping. During the struggle though something appeared from under the man's pillow and seeing no need to rush Jasper grabbed the object which turned out to be a photo album and he opened it only to snap it shut a second later.
"You sick fuck." Jasper growled out angrily as planted a hand on guard's mouth and stabbed him repeatedly in the stomach until the guard finally went limp.
"Jeez Jasper. Way to go psycho." A voice called out and Jasper turned to see Miller, himself covered in blood.
With a grunt Jasper grabbed the photo album and walked over to Miller before handing it to him. Miller flipped the book open and frowned deeply as he saw its contents. Inside where photos of women, girls, boys, all Grounders, all naked and abused. In disgust Miller shut it before looking at the dead man on his bunk.
"You did good Jasper…real good." Miller said as tears finally fell down Jasper's face.
***The President's Private Chambers***
"Wake up Mr. President." A voice called out in the dark and just like that Dante Wallace had a gun in his hand only to see ten members of the 44 surrounding him with Cage and Dr. Tsing kneeling at the foot of his bed.
"I believe we need to have a chat." Miller stepped forward with blood covering the front of his clothes.
"My God…what have you done!?" Wallace said as the gun trembled in his hands.
"We know what you do to the Grounders. We heard Cage's orders. We know they came from you." Miller said simply as his eyes narrowed.
"Orders?! What orders?!" Wallace shouted angrily before finally an epiphany hit him. "Cage. What did you do?" Wallace demanded as he looked at his disheveled son who sported a bloody nose and a black eye.
"Dad-I didn't do anything. I swear it! Dad." Cage whimpered out before a click echoed through the room and everyone turned to the door where Maya held up a recorder.
"I want you to bring one of the 44 to me….someone who won't be missed…fine. Just have the girl to me in an hour." Cage's voice rang out and the room fell into a deafening silence.
"Maya, you fucking bitch!" Cage spat out but let out a pained whined as Jasper yanked his hair back and put a bloodied blade on his throat.
"Careful buddy. That's my girlfriend you're talking too." Jasper growled out before looking up at Maya and suddenly a shyness appeared on his face "I mean…if you want to be." He said and to his delight Maya nodded.
"Alright you love birds. This isn't the time for that." Miller said breaking the already weird mood.
"What do you want?" Wallace asked as he lowered the gun.
"We've eliminated the guards loyal to Cage." Miller stated simply.
"I take it you mean you killed them." Wallace said evenly.
"Yeah. They were going to take one of us and Dr. Tsing here, has been so kind as to tell us what she had planned. If you please doctor, explain to your leader everything and please don't skimp on the details." Miller requested and the doctor looked up at him defiantly but she spoke.
"Bone marrow. I was planning on extracting bone marrow and transplanting it into one of our soldiers to see if it would extend the time we can be outside." Dr. Tsing explained before her head rocked to the side as Miller punched her in the face.
"How much bone marrow?" He growled out as the doctor spat blood onto the ground and looked up at Miller menacingly.
"As much as I needed! I'd drain you all till your bones were dust. This was going to save my people! I would do whatever it takes. The Ground belongs to us!" Dr. Tsing yelled out before looking at the President. "I was just doing what you didn't have the guts to do." She snarled out as Miller looked back at Wallace who stared angrily at the two in front of him.
"You two have ruined everything." Wallace said as he clutched his sheets in rage.
"Father I-" Cage was cut off as a loud gunshot rang out.
Cage looked down at his chest where a rose of blood was blossoming before slowly looking up at his father.
"I told you. If I found out that you were lying that there would be no Wallace after me." Dante said grimly as he watched his son collapse onto his side and die.
The 44 watched as the old man slouched heavily and the bed nearly seemed to swallow him up before he sat up straighter and looked up.
"I apologize for the actions of my son. I told him no but it looks like he listened to me. It seems we've greatly underestimated you." The President said and everyone heard a tone of despair in his voice.
"Yes. Yes you did." Miller said and Wallace nodded before looking Miller in the eyes.
"How many did you kill? Who is left?" Wallace asked.
"Most of the soldiers are dead. We left the civilians untouched." Miller said and the President nodded in thanks.
"Small mercies." Wallace whispered and a long silence reigned in the room before he spoke once more. "What do you plan to do now?" He asked.
"We'll keep you and the doctor hostage, let everyone know of the change in management, free the Grounder prisoners, and make contact with the Arkers. Now, my question is this. Will you help us willingly or by force?" Miller asked and after a few seconds President Dante Wallace nodded.
***Inside Camp Jaha***
"You weren't kidding Drake." Jaha said as he lowered his binoculars. "There must be hundreds of them." He whispered at the implications.
"I would guess nearly two thousand." Drake said as he lowered his own set of binoculars. "They could wipe us out. It would set their army back years though." He said softly to himself.
"It's a good thing we have a common enemy then." Jake said grimly as he turned toward Drake. "You'll be the one receiving them. Good luck." He said as he walked toward the ladder and began climbing down.
"Wait-what?!" Drake shouted out in surprise and causing Jake to stop just before his head slipped below the floor.
"Didn't I tell you? You're our General in charge of military matters and this would be classified as a military matter. Don't worry I'll be with you, just you know, I won't talk unless spoken too so-bye." Jake gave a cheeky grin before he continued his climb leaving Drake to himself.
"Son of a bitch." Drake frowned as he looked back at the Grounder Army.
***Outside Camp Jaha***
"Impressive." Gustus said begrudgingly as he looked at the large station on the ground and the defenses around it.
The large station itself towered over the land and Lexa had no doubt that inside they would find multiple troubles if they were to ever attack it. Around the area however was a large fence with wires crisscrossing each way. It was a weak fence but the heavy looking wooden and metal guard towers looked menacing and dangerous. Behind the weak fence though was the beginning of a wall. By the time it was finished Lexa had no doubts that it would be the most well defended place in this territory. A slight worry filled her as she reigned in her horse.
Drake Knight had become something of a legend among her people. The twenty survivors from their war on the 100 had spread what they had seen of the teenage General and how he had wiped out a force of 300 using means unknown to them. They also shared the fight between Drake and Tristan and that only fanned the sparks of the fire that was Drake's legend. Drake was known to be cruel and vicious when needed but also merciful, which was only proven more evident with the return of not only the twenty warriors but also of Anya herself. The wedding between Anya and Drake had done its job in preventing blood feuds from forming…maybe it had done it too well.
"Heda." Indra's voiced out and pointed at the large area before the fence.
Lexa saw a large force assembling in a neat formation wearing matching fiber and metal uniforms.
"Looks like they plan on receiving us." Lexa said with a smile. "Indra, make sure the army settles down nicely but keep them at the ready." She ordered.
"Do you think he'll attack?" Gustus asked with an edge in his voice.
"No. Drake is smarter than that. Besides we have two thousand warriors at our back. If they try anything we will smother them in their crib." Lexa smirked and while Gustus looked pacified he didn't look happy at walking into what was just a little while ago enemy hands. "Come." Lexa ordered as she urged her horse forward toward the Sky People's new home.
***At Camp Jaha***
Drake and the rest of the soldiers he had trained stood in formation. Each one was clad in the new uniform he had commissioned since he first started training the Arkers for combat. Raven, Wick, and anyone who could help hand stitched together what they could find and it turned out pretty well all things considered. They had upgraded the guard uniform. They had kept the durable cloth but had removed the protective plates as they left too much of their body vulnerable. Instead Drake had plans drawn up for metal taken from the Station to be used in making armor that would be durable and protective but not limit mobility.
What resulted was a crude two piece chest piece that went over the chest and back before being shut by a latches that were hidden just above the wearer's chest. Also protective plates were used to protect the biceps and triceps of the wearer and were also located along each of the wearer's thighs. The plating was placed strategically so that major artery along the arms and legs and vital organs were protected. While the weight was heavy, weighing in at nearly fifty pounds it still left a lot of maneuverability. Drake had made the 100 and the guards wear it nearly every day for the last week and had them test it out thoroughly much to their displeasure but no one could deny the affects it had on them. Not only did it make them all stronger but it also added a sense of belonging and comradery, something that Drake had a hard time instilling between the 100 and the Guard. Now though they fought as one. They were soldiers. Still, they were only a small number, eighty seven to be exact. The rest had washed out or quit and Drake didn't want to waste their training so he assigned those not fit for combat roles to work as Peacekeepers, as was the guard's original purpose.
Drake watched as the gates opened and five grounder warriors along with Gustus and of course Lexa at the head rode in. He and the rest of his soldiers stood at ease with their arms behind their backs and feet shoulder width apart. All in all they made for a very intimidating sight but Lexa didn't look even fazed as she dismounted and held her reins toward Gustus who took it easily.
"A small…yet impressive force you command here Drake." Lexa said in a two handed manner.
"The best of the best that I can offer. As well as nearly two hundred more at Drake's Crossing." Drake said with a relaxed grin despite the tense atmosphere building between them.
"I was told I would have the full support of the Sky People if I came to their aid." Lexa said vexed. "Is this all you can muster? I have brought two thousand warriors in this venture." She said clearly displeased with the turnout.
"I assure you Heda that while my force is small, their quality certainly beats your quantity. Or have you forgotten the Battle of the Ashen Plains?" Drake said and Anya and the soldiers nearby tensed at their leader's taunt.
"I see." Lexa said with narrowed eyes as she stepped forward and Drake did the same.
"Not yet." Drake grinned and to the surprise of everyone in attendance the two leaders embraced each other tightly before Lexa stepped back and smiled.
"Show me then." Lexa commanded and like that Drake turned and with a hand movement the soldiers filed into two rows that led to the entrance of Mecha Station.
"Commander." Drake said respectfully as they walked together toward the station with Gustus, her warriors, Clarke, Raven, and Anya in tow.
***Council Chambers***
Lexa sat regally on the chair she was provided as Anya, Drake, Jake, and Kane did the same across from her. To her, the Sky People's home seemed cramped and dingy. She wondered how anyone could survive in the Sky in this metal trap. She was once more thankful for Gustus and her guard behind her. This place felt dead.
"Before we begin a round of introductions." Drake said diplomatically. "This is our Leader, our Chancellor, Jake Griffin, our head of security Marcus Kane, and of course you know us." He said with a smile and Lexa nodded slowly at the two new men in front of her.
"I assumed you were the Leader Drake." Lexa spoke neutrally.
"Drake has a great deal of authority but he is still just an Advisor to the council." Kane said and Lexa looked at the older man with an uninterested gaze before looking back at Drake.
"I am in charge of military matters. So for now that does make me the leader." Drake spoke and Lexa nodded in a more pleased manner.
"Then onto other matters." Lexa stated.
"Other matters indeed." Drake said while leaning forward onto the table. "Tell me Lexa, what you know of the Reapers?" He asked with a grin that resembled a fox.
"Drake. I have no time for games." Lexa frowned and Drake nodded understandingly.
"Recently we captured a Reaper. Lincoln of the Trikru." Drake spoke and while Lexa didn't move her eyes did narrow. "We managed to save him. He's recovering as we speak." He stated earning a glare from Gustus.
"Impossible." Gustus growled out only to pause as Anya stood up and unsheathed her sword.
"You dare call my husband a liar." The icy tone of the warrior woman was a weapon in of itself and caused the warriors behind Gustus to looking worriedly at their Gustus. "I've seen it for myself. Lincoln was a Reaper but they saved him. Kept him alive long enough for the madness to leave him." Anya said in a deadly whisper before Drake touched her arm and suddenly the icy atmosphere dissipated and Anya sheathed her sword before sitting down once more.
"Anya, is that the truth?" Lexa asked simply and Anya bowed her head submissively.
"Yes Heda." Anya said respectfully.
"How?" Lexa asked as she looked at Drake.
"The Mountain Men give the Reapers…in terms you would understand…poison. It dulls the mind but makes them aggressive. Volatile as you've seen. But, it's temporary. If you keep them contained, hydrated, and give them medicine a little at a time, the poison will leave the body. That is assuming that they don't die." Drake explained as he clasped his hands in front of him. "As I said before Lexa, my people have skills and technology that can be used to help. Although…the process isn't perfect." Drake admitted with a frown.
"Explain." Lexa demanded.
"Lincoln was relatively fresh when we found him. The longer someone has been infected with the poison the less likely the Reaper will survive, let alone recover. After they recover who knows what will happen? Some, like Lincoln, could come back. Others, well, their minds may be too damaged to function normally. Then they'll just be a liability and dangerous to others. We will have to kill them." Drake answered leaving the Commander and her men silent.
"They've been dead for years…if they can be saved then I request that you save them. If they are beyond help…then at least you tried." Lexa stated as she looked at the young man across from her and nodded gratefully. "You've given us hope Drake Knight when all seemed lost. Thank you." Lexa said graciously and Drake nodded.
"We are allies Lexa. I hope this will only help further relations between our people." Drake said humbly.
"I would like to see Lincoln before I leave." Lexa requested.
"He's in our triage. We brought him here where we have better facilities." Drake informed her. "I'll have Anya show you after our meeting." He said and Anya nodded.
"Now back to war. We've managed to listen in on Mt. Weather. The how of it isn't important but we now have the ability to listen to what they are doing." Drake explained much to the shock of Lexa.
"And?" Lexa asked.
"While your army's movement has been recorded the Mountain Men believe that you are moving against us and not them." Drake answered.
"Then they still believe themselves to be unassailable." Lexa frowned.
"Which is good because then we can sneak up on them. I have plans for one of my soldiers to infiltrate their bunker." Drake explained.
"How?" Lexa asked once more.
"Once Lincoln recovers I'll have him escort Bellamy through the tunnels dressed as a Reaper. He should know where to take him. When the Mountain Men arrive to take Bellamy, he and Lincoln will cause a distraction that will let him slip inside." Drake said.
"To do what?" Lexa said thoughtfully as she leaned forward.
"To disable the Fog of course." Drake grinned and Lexa frowned with a quizzical look in her eyes.
"The Fog, or as the Mountain Men call it, the Veil, is used to keep the Grounders away from Mt. Weather. It is one of the things we learned from the radio." Drake answered as a snarl formed on Lexa's face and caused her guards and especially Gustus to stiffen up.
"They've been attacking us." Lexa growled out.
"Yes. Once Bellamy has deactivated the machine that creates it, we will be able to send our armies forward without fear." Drake said victoriously.
"If he makes it that far." Gustus said.
"He will. Bellamy will succeed." Drake said confidently.
"But what if he doesn't?" Lexa asked.
"He will." Drake said assuredly and the look on his face told Lexa everything she needed to know.
"Very well. But if you're wrong Drake." Lexa left the sentence open for interpretation and Drake nodded in acceptance before they continued.
***Three Hours Later***
The meeting had concluded and Lexa and her men were led away by Anya an hour ago to visit Lincoln who was able to stay awake for longer periods of time. Kane had resumed his duties and kept the Peacekeepers working to make sure the civilians calm and watch from any approaching dangers. That left only Jake and Drake in the Council Chambers alone.
"The impossible always seems to happen around you Drake." Jake said as Drake went over the plans one last time.
"I try." Drake said with a slight chuckle as he looked up at the older man.
"And you do." Jake retorted and Drake nodded in acceptance of the compliment. "That's why after the attack on Mt. Weather I'm making you Chancellor." He said causing Drake to freeze where he stood.
"What?" Drake asked genuinely surprised at the older man's announcement.
"I can't do this Drake." Jake sighed as he took a heavy seat at the head of the table. "This war, how you handled the Commander, what you've done with the 100 and now us…I know machines, tools...oil and wire…not people. I don't know even half of what I need to, to lead our people to a brighter future." He said and Drake saw the lines on the older man's face deepen.
"Jake, come on. You're doing a good job here." Drake paused as Jake looked up at him.
"No Drake, you are doing a good job. From the time that I appointed you Advisor to the Council you've already taken us further than I had ever thought. I play the short game Drake. It's how I was raised, it's how I lived my life. To fix things when they stop working and pray that they don't break down for another year. Drake, you think about things twenty years down the line. Maybe even further than that. You have the vision I lack. You and the 100 are our future. You always have been. I see it, Kane sees it, the 100 see it, and the Arkers see it. Even Lexa looks at you as an equal. We all look to you to lead us. So lead us." Jake said respectfully.
"Are you sure this is what you want to do?" Drake asked hesitantly.
"Come on Drake. This was what you were aiming for all along. I'm not stupid. What you've built is a fine machine." Jake said as he groaned as he stood up and walked over to the young man.
"From you, I'll take that as high praise." Drake said as the older man placed a heavy hand onto his shoulder.
"You should. I know my machines." Jake said with a prideful grin.
"Drake!" Raven yelled out as she ran into her room with her portable radio.
"Raven? What is it?" Drake asked shocked.
"I was monitoring chatter out of Mt. Weather when suddenly it stopped." Raven said wide eyed.
"What do you mean?" Drake asked with narrowed eyes.
"Like I said it just stopped. There is nothing on the air waves." Raven gasped out.
"Drake, what does this mean?" Jake asked.
"Could it be the 100 inside?" Raven asked.
"Maybe." Drake pondered worriedly.
"Drake." Raven called out softly breaking his concentration.
"I need to speak with Lexa." Drake said and rushed out of the room.
***Grounder Encampment***
"Heda." Gustus gruff called out distracting Lexa from the small map she was looking over as Drake came in with Indra at his side.
"Drake? What are you doing here?" Lexa said confused.
"This cannot wait. I told you before that we were monitoring what was happening inside Mt. Weather through the radio." Drake said and Lexa nodded. "Well everything went dead. It's all quiet." Drake said seriously.
"What do you think happened?" Lexa asked.
"It's possible…but maybe my 100 managed to take control of Mt. Weather." Drake said hesitantly.
"Or it could be that they know they are being watched. I appreciate that you've given us the means to turn Reapers back into men Drake but…"Lexa paused with a sigh. "I'm not willing to risk the lives of my warriors on this." She said firmly.
"I understand. I just wanted to inform you that me and ten of my soldiers are going to scout it out. If my 100 have indeed taken control of Mt. Weather I will radio back to camp that it's safe." Drake said as he turned and left the Commanded tent.
"Lexa…what do you think?" Gustus asked quietly.
"Indra, go with them." Lexa commanded and with that the warrior woman left and went after the Sky People's leader.
***Mt. Weather***
Miller stood, clean and in new clothes, before the assembled surviving Mountain Men in the assembly hall. The 44 were posted at all the entrances and had the high ground and were holding their rifles at the ready in case a riot broke out. Miller was glad for Jasper's forethought to take the armory shortly after he recovered from killing that sick animal. The 44 had the guns, manpower, and now the President.
"Today, we eliminated those who would do us harm. Each soldier killed was under orders to take one of us forcefully and cause us harm by none other than your security chief Cage Wallace. Everyone still alive in this room is innocent. We understand you had to do what you had to, to survive. We had to do it on the Ark many times. However! We never captured people. We never did what you people did. Your need to live killed thousands of Grounders." Miller was cut off as one of the tied up surviving soldiers brushed off Jasper and stepped forward.
"They are fucking animals!" The random soldier growled out only to fall to the ground as Jasper hit him in the stomach with the butt of his rifle.
"Now is not the time for talking. Now is the time for listening." Miller said firmly as he looked from the soldier to the crowd.
"I hold no love for the Grounders but they are still people! Not animals to be locked into cages." Miller said as he peered with a hot fury into the crowd. "They are not cattle! They are not sheep! They are not blood bags to be used and tossed away!" Miller shouted out and the surviving Mountain Men could only look down at their feet in shame.
"What will happen to us?" A girl whimpered as her mother pulled her safely back into her arms.
"When Drake comes he'll decide your fate. As for now, you'll all be assigned to your quarters." Miller said as the same soldier who spoke out before regained his breath and looked up angrily at Miller.
"What?! You killed all my friends! And now you don't even have the balls to finish us all off!?" The soldier yelled out angrily as tears came to his eyes.
"We acted in self-defense." Miller said as he shrugged. "We could have killed you all in your sleep. It would have been quick and painless. Or we could have started a fire and disabled the extinguishing systems so that your choices would be to suffocate and burn or go outside and die of radiation. We could have poisoned all your food at meal time or the water supply. We could have done many things. But we decided this was cleaner, easier." Miller stated easily and the Mountain Men looked at him in horror.
"We are not monsters. We killed only who we needed to. Now, I don't want to kill anymore of you but if you fight against us, provoke us, maybe even kill one of us I will not stop next time." And with threat the 44 guided small groups of Mountain Men back to their homes.
"Miller." Monty's voice came through the radio.
"Report." Miller said.
"We've got movement on the perimeter." Monty said and his voice seemed tense.
"How many?" Miller asked.
"A small group" Monty stated breathlessly. "You're not going to believe this." He whispered.
"Monty." Miller said evenly.
"It's Drake…with a group of soldiers with him…and a Grounder?" Monty said in disbelief.
"Open the Blast door. I'm going up to meet him. Out." Miller said as he placed the radio on his hip and looked at Jasper who stood nearby.
"Ready to shock the hell out of Drake Knight?" Miller asked with a grin.
"I wouldn't dream of saying no." Jasper said with a mischievous grin.
***Outside Mt. Weather's Blast Door***
Drake stood in front of the Blast door with ten of the 100 and Indra. The Veil hadn't been deployed and he wondered if that was because they were such a small group or if the Mountain Men were just luring them in. Drake kept the rest of them hiding in a small ditch just before the entrance and they had been waiting for ten minutes. He didn't know what he was waiting for but he knew soon enough it would come. Whether it be the Mountain Men or his people it wouldn't be long. To his surprise a yellow light began flashing near the entrance and suddenly the air was filled with alarms as the large door slowly unlocked. Drake watched as with a loud pained shriek the ancient blast door opened.
"Holy Shit." Drake whispered as Miller and Jasper stepped forward.
"Welcome to Mt. Weather Drake." Miller and Jasper both smirked as they looked at the surprise on Drake's face.
"Fancy armor you got there." Jasper said as he looked at Drake's uniform and armor combo. "Can I get one?" He asked.
"Depends. It's heavy as a son of a bitch." Drake grinned. "Come on out guys." He called out behind him and the 100 along with Indra climbed out of the ditch and approached them.
"Did everyone get bigger while we were away?" Miller frowned self-consciously as he inspected the 100 behind them and Drake laughed.
"Once we get you a set for yourself you'll be complaining about it in no time. Now, show me Mt. Weather and tell me everything." Drake said and this time he sounded more like a leader instead of teenager.
"MT. Weather is yours." Miller said as he turned and escorted the group inside and the door closed behind them. "Don't worry, this is just the decontamination system." Miller said as the room began its loud process of removing excess radiation.
After it was door the inner door flashed green and Miller opened it as he led the group deeper into the facility.
"The 44 have eliminated any soldiers that were ordered to harm us. The civilians have been contained to their housing units. We have guns, ammo, and essential systems. The entire facility is ours. The leader, the President, is in his office waiting for you." Miller informed him and Drake nodded in appreciation.
"What about my people?" Indra growled out.
"We've left them in their cages for now. We just took the facility. Honestly, I didn't know if they would know our language. I was going to send one of ours back to the Drop Ship to let Drake know that we had Mt. Weather." Miller said as he turned toward the fierce looking woman. "Jasper will take you to them." He said and Jasper nodded as he stepped next to Indra.
"And you would just let them go? You won't stop us?" Indra asked as her hand itched to draw her sword.
"Yes." Drake said as he turned toward her and Indra frowned heavily.
"Nothing is free." Indra glared suspiciously.
"Then take it as paying a debt." Drake said causing Indra to frown. "I know that some of the Trikru still despise me and plot for my demise for what I did at the Ash Plains. I took the lives of nearly 300 of your warriors. They each had families, friends, loved ones, sons and daughters…the lives of your people in Mt. Weather are yours if you accept the payment. Blood must have blood." Drake intoned and Indra slowly nodded in acceptance.
"Very well." Indra said and looked at Jasper.
"Come on." Jasper said as he led Indra away from them.
"Are you sure that's a smart idea." Miller asked. "There is a whole army worth of Grounders in the harvest chambers. They'll turn on us." He said worriedly.
"You've been gone a long time Miller. Things have changed." Drake said with a smile.
"What things?" Miller asked.
"Later. Now, the President's office." Drake ordered and Miller nodded as he took the lead once more.
After a few minutes and a somewhat packed elevator ride they arrived outside the clear walled office of the President.
"Miller, you come with me, the rest of you will wait outside. Look menacing," Drake ordered and the 100 chuckled slightly as they watched their leader and Miller walk into the office.
"I assume you are their leader." The old man spoke as he looked up at the newcomer.
"Drake Knight. And I assume you are the President." The young man said with a strong gaze.
"President Dante Wallace…or I used to be." Wallace frowned as he leaned heavily back into his seat. "My idiot son has led us to ruin. My people, more than a third of them cut down. And for what? A chance that there was a cure for these weak accursed bodies of ours?" Wallace said angrily. "We've lived down here nearly a century and now we are undone." He said despairingly.
"Your people and mine have similar backgrounds Mr. President." Drake said as he crossed the room and sat down on a nearby chair and placed his rifle over his lap. "Both of our people, locked away in our lifeboats." He stated.
"At least you had a view." Wallace said.
"At least you were already on the Ground." Drake retorted and the old man nodded.
"Touché." Wallace said with a faint smile only for it to be smothered with a frown. "What do you plan on doing to us?" He asked grimly.
"I think enough has been done. My 100 have decimated your forces. Killed any they deemed a threat. Your people are weak. Dying. Your blood bags are being released as we speak." Drake frowned as he thought of what Clarke said.
"Without them we'll die." Wallace said solemnly.
"Yes. Yes you will. But, I have a solution." Drake said stunning Miller and the President.
"Wh-what?" The President asked astonished.
"Miller has told me about Dr. Tsing's plan to use the 44's bone marrow and transplanting it into someone to see if it could be a permanent solution for your bodies." Drake stated and Wallace nodded numbly.
"Drake…what are you saying?" Miller asked worriedly but was cut off with a wave of Drake's hand.
"I'm curious to see if it'll work. Therefore, I'll be the first volunteer." Drake offered.
"What do you want?" The President said with narrowed eyes.
"Of course I'll have say on who gets the marrow and who doesn't. And I'll retain control of Mt. Weather." Drake said simply. "And in return your people will be allowed to live on the ground under the Arkers; for their protection." Drake clarified before he continued. "The Grounders won't take kindly to Mountain Men. Especially, after what you and your ancestors have done. The Grounders in this area are fond of this saying, blood must have blood. They'll kill you all without my protection." He finished and Wallace frowned as he looked down at the table.
The room was silent for a long time and Miller wondered what would happen if the President didn't take the deal but it was a short thought as he knew the Mountain Men would die otherwise. That was it. So it was with no surprise that Presi-no, just Dante Wallace, looked up and nodded.
"Very well. Miller, take me to the communications room." Drake said with a grin.
***Camp Jaha***
Raven was monitoring the air waves when suddenly the ever present jamming noise finally vanished.
"Guys." Raven called out and Lexa, Clarke, Anya, Jake, Kane and Gustus crowded around the radio in front of her and not a moment too soon as they heard a familiar voice begin to speak.
"This is Drake Knight calling from Mt. Weather. The 100 have taken command of the bunker. I repeat, the 100 have taken command of the bunker. Mt. Weather…is ours."
So many things have happened! In such a short amount of time! What happens next? Well, I got to wait for Season 3 to come out on Netflix. I actually haven't seen it yet. As I'm sure you all know the time frame was sped up incredibly fast, but since the Arkers and the Commander were already in an alliance and Finn hadn't killed all those people, damn you Finn, there was less hoops to jump through and therefore made it easier for them to fight on the same side. Although it turned out to be a moot point as Miller led the 44 into a blood bath and pretty much cut the Mountain Men military at the hip. Which was to be expected since they had been preparing and planning for this eventuality for the longest time. Wallace kills Cage just as he promised although he didn't really have a choice.
Drake is now in charge of Drake's Crossing, officially Mecha Station and a fully functioning Mt. Weather with the full cooperation from Dante Wallace. The reason why the Mountain Men were cut down before they could do anything about it was simple. They lacked intelligence on their enemies, they let their guard down around the 44, and they got complacent by using the Veil and only sent scouting parties to Mecha Station but stopped after one of their own was killed. Also the lack of hoops to jump through as mentioned before really helped. Drake's presence has definitely changed things which is good as the story would blow if it just followed everything that happened in the series and Drake stood by as a background character.
As for Drake's progression, from the Ark Orphan underground boxing champion to Leader of the Sky People on the Ground, I hope it seemed like a natural progression in the story. I didn't want it to seem like everything was handed to him and that everyone just suddenly loved him. I wanted him to earn the 100's and later his own people's respect after they landed. I wanted people to look up to him and want to actually follow his lead.
For me, I always envisioned Drake as a prematurely matured boy, whose seen and done horrible things, both on the Ark and on the Ground, in order to get to where he is today. He's suffered throughout his entire life but still tries his best to protect the people he cares about. He loves deeply and hates deeply but that's just who he is. He's cunning, intelligent and knows how to combine the two in a way that works out for him. He knows he's not invincible or perfect and that some things are out of his control like Wells death or the Yao Guai attack.
I hope you've all come to love Drake as much as I do. He's pretty much my first genuine OC and I'm glad at how he turned out. Anyway, enough about that. If you like the story feel free to follow and review. And as always have a good one. Until next time.