Clarke watched as Roan molded the metal he'd foraged into the hole in the ground. She shook her head in amazement "Is there nothing that you're not good at" she asked. He laughed, "After five years you're still surprised?" he mused. " She shrugged "I wasn't exactly paying attention" she replied "you don't say," He scoffed. "You grew up on this boat and I have learned in five years to do more than you did in a lifetime," he pointed out. "Well I had my mom and dad, and then I had Bellamy and Raven, so I didn't have to pay attention" she defended lamely. He shook his head "and then I came around to continue the cycle" he sighed. "Please tell me you learned something?" he pleaded. "I built a radio" she murmured "that may or may not work," he reminded her. She grinned sweetly at him "Did I mention how glad I am you found me?" she asked. He merely grunted and returned to his job.
Maddi ran out to greet them "Is my pool ready?" she asked. "Your pool?" Clarke cocked her head at the child. Roan laughed "Not yet Maddi, but soon" he promised. She groaned "Go play Maddi" Clarke told her "or help Roan if you want the job to be done faster." Maddi weighed her options then jumped in the pit with Roan "What do I need to do?" she asked. Roan shot Clarke a look "finally someone who wants to learn something new" he said. Clarke grinned "I'm being useful, somebody has to get stuff from the scrap pile" she defended. He just shook his head and called for more scraps. Clarke laughed and walked over to pick up the things he asked for. "She's in a better mood," Maddi said. "Yeah she is" Roan agreed, "Hopefully this one will last."
It had been two days since they heard from the Eligius corporation, Bellamy had worked out a plan with Echo and Raven for their protection just in case. He also knew the others had a plan of their own just in case his failed, but he was willing to let them have that, it never hurt to have a backup plan just in case. "Eligius Corporation to Ark Station come in" the radio crackled. Bellamy picked the mic up "This is ark station, go ahead" he spoke into it. "Ark station we would like permission to interlock with your station' Colonel Santos spoke over the radio. "Permission granted Eligius" Bellamy said and opened the hangar door like Raven had shown him. Echo and Raven sat beside him looking at each other. "Keep an eye out" Bellamy looked at Echo. She nodded and slipped out of the room. "Ready?" Raven stood up. Bellamy nodded and walked with her toward the hangar bay.
The ship that had docked was larger than their rocket it had a sign on it that read "Elgius Corporation: Prisoner Transport". Bellamy and Raven exchanged glances wondering what they had gotten themselves into. Raven squeezed his hand "It's going to be okay," he told her "Echo has our backs." The doors opened and five people led by a man with dark hair emerged. They appeared to be unarmed. "Bellamy Blake" the man held his hand out. "I'm Colonel Santos, but you can call me Adam he said. Bellamy introduced Raven, and then Santos introduced his men.
Bellamy shook his outstretched hand "Is there a place we could talk?" Santos asked. Bellamy nodded "This way" Bellamy led them to the lab. He could sense Echo's presence, but she was good at keeping hidden, so she was definitely out of sight. As they passed the dining hall where everyone was gathered the smell of food wafted their way. Santos stopped in the hallway "Is that Algae?" he asked. Bellamy nodded; we've had our fill of it. We can't wait to get home and eat real food. Santos looked at him, "I know you said you have limited food supplies, but if you could spare it, my men could use a little food" the colonel addressed them. Bellamy looked at Raven, there's plenty more where that came from," she said "so why not." Santos smiled at them "many thanks "Considering we've been living off of MRE's for longer than you've been in space, Algae sounds wonderful" Santos replied, " he said. He walked into the dining room and introduced his men. The others introduced themselves as well.
Bellamy, Raven, Santos and a man he identified as Garvey headed toward the communication lab. They sat on opposite sides of the small table in there. "I have to tell you we have had our eye on this place for quite a while, but could never get into to it. How did you manage that?" He asked them. "That would be Raven" Bellamy smiled at her. "Actually, that would be Clarke" she countered. "Is this Clarke on board?" Santos asked. "No" Bellamy shook his head "she did the legwork portion of getting this place back online, but in order to do that, she had to stay behind in the praimfaya" he explained. "So, it was your idea then" he looked at Raven. She nodded "I have a knack for all things mechanical" she shrugged. "I'm sorry about your friend. I take it she didn't survive?" he asked. "We don't know, but probably not, that's why we want to get back home" Bellamy lied. They didn't need to know the truth.
"And you mentioned a bunker?" he asked. "Yes, with more than a thousand people in it" Bellamy confirmed "some friends, some acquaintances" he said. "Look" Raven stepped in "the bottom line is we want to go home, sooner rather than later" she stared Santos down "We are willing to work for a ride home or trade something for that right" she said. "You clearly know that you have the upper hand, so just tell us what is your offer?" Santos grinned "getting right to the point I see" he smiled
"you're right, we have an offer" he acknowledged.
"We want this place," he told them. "The problem is we don't know how to run it or anything about it," he said. "Give us six months, teach us how to live on and run this place. At the end of that time, we'll get you back to your people." Santos said. "There are a few things we want to take with us," Bellamy said "not a lot, but a few things" Santos nodded that shouldn't be a problem" he agreed. "I assume you need to run this by your people?" he looked over at them. "Yes, we will" Bellamy said "but we could do it together if you wanted." Santos nodded and the four of them left the lab to go to the dining hall. A burst of laughter greeted them, to Bellamy that was a good sign.
The meeting was short, everyone agreed to the terms Santos had set with each person making a list of the things they wanted to take with him or her. Following the meeting Bellamy and Raven showed the six Eligius corporation members to their rooms, deliberately placing them close to each of them. People from each team were paired with a person of the other team so they could learn the skills they needed to stay on the ring. Tired from their journey the six-team members from Eligius retired to their rooms. Soon after Echo joined Bellamy and Raven in the communications lab.
"Well?" Bellamy looked at her "they seem to be all they say they are" she told them. Their ship has no weapons and before they all went to sleep they seemed quite happy to have this place," she said. "I believe they truly want to live here, though I can't imagine why" she shook her head. Bellamy shrugged "they probably have lived in space so long this is all they know" he said. "Keep an eye on them" he asked her. She nodded and left the room. "I'm going to check on the others" Raven left the room. Bellamy nodded "I'm going to stay here to see if Clarke calls" he said.
He was in the lab for most of the house before Santos walked in. "That Echo is quite the little treasure" he smiled. "You've met her?" Bellamy played dumb. "My men don't pay attention as well as I do" he said, "I know she's been following us all day. Your idea, I assume?" he asked. Bellamy nodded "I needed to know that I could trust you, I hope you understand" he said. "I do" Santos smiled "I might have done the same thing in your shoes. I assure you, we mean you no harm, and we will get you home to your friends and family" he told Bellamy.
"This place was a way to survive praimfaya. We are all ready to leave and get back to our friends and families. What we don't understand is why you want to live here" Bellamy shook his head. "Originally we didn't want to stay in space, especially since our families were on earth" he said. "But they all perished the first time fire destroyed the earth. Since then, this has become home" he shrugged. "Its weird, but this is home and this is all we want, I promise" Santos looked him in the eye.
"All we want is to go home" Bellamy said, "you can have this place, we don't want anything to do with this place. "Do you have people down there?" Santos asked. "My sister and my girl" Bellamy admitted. "Give us six months, then we will get you home, you have my word" Santos looked him directly in the eye "no surprises later, no added conditions." Bellamy sighed "okay, six months, but then we are going home and you can have this place because we will not be coming back to it" he said. Santos smiled "So do we have a deal?" Santos stuck his hand out. "Yeah, we do" Bellamy agreed shaking the man's hand. "Does that mean you can call off Echo, cause honestly her ability to creep around is really eerie" Santos shuddered.
Bellamy laughed "Trust me I know all about that" he grinned "and I will tell her to back off, but she takes her job of protecting us quite serious" he warned. "She sounds like a great resource to have around" Santos chuckled. "She's been a good friend, too" Bellamy replied. "I have to warn you" Bellamy leveled his gaze at the man "she's probably going to keep a pretty good eye on you until we are safely on our way home." Santos nodded "I will keep that in mind" he said standing up "now I am going to get some sleep" he said walking out the door. "Good night" Bellamy called after him. Echo walked in the room a few minutes later. "So, should I back off" she asked. "Maybe a little " Bellamy said "but keep an eye on them" he said. She nodded.
