Chapter 30
Taylor did not have too much time to wallow within her thoughts though. Around midday there was Bellamy's sign on the sky and chants erupted from all around the army camp.
Lexa and Anya had walked through the camp of the army, assessing the mood of the warriors while Skykru had joined them officially, while Taylor had remained behind in the commander's tent.
Taylor stepped out of the tent quickly, clutching the rough material between her fingers. Her breath stuck within her throat for a second as the scenes of the war in the Mountain flashed before her eyes. She would somehow try to prevent all of the Mountain Men to be massacred.
The army camp was in a haste to get moving within only moments.
Lexa and Anya returned to the camp quickly as well, both women needed to apply their characteristic war paint and dress into their full armour.
Taylor could spot Clarke hurrying towards the tent as well. The blonde was obviously nervous and her features were pulled into a grimace as if she was unsuccessfully trying to put on a brave face.
Taylor gave the other blonde a fleeting smile, taking a step back and letting her enter the tent as well.
"Our plan has to work" Clarke exclaimed already while she was stepping in and her voice shook suspiciously.
Taylor knew that in the show the blonde woman was the one to pull the lever and irradiate the Mountain. She felt sorry for her and she wanted to prevent it.
She caught Anya's gaze as the general turned around and stared at the blonde Skykru for a moment.
"Yes, Clarke" Lexa answered her though, turning around calmly as she had just finished applying her war paint.
Taylor had told Lexa and Anya that Raven and her team would be overpowered by soldiers of the Mountain Men and be brought inside. So, both women had agreed to send more warriors with them to support them. She had also told them that destroying the power source would not be enough to open the door and how it had been opened in the show.
It had been almost funny to observe Lexa telling Clarke that they would need to do more to destroy the door and get inside during the previous day.
Indra would lead a unit of warriors onto the ridge of the Mountain, hopefully reducing the number of shooters which would face the group of their army wanting to get inside.
Taylor had not noticed how she had been caught up in her thoughts as well and she was startled slightly when Anya suddenly stood directly next to her.
The general had placed a hand on one of her elbows and was looking at her expectantly.
Taylor needed a second to spot the large dagger the general was offering to her. She stared at the gleaming blade with wide grey eyes. "I have no idea how to use it" she exclaimed in a feeble tone, feeling her pulse quicken.
Anya's expression was serene and her brown eyes hid her own agitation "We will change that" she commented in a brisk tone "For now though, use the pointy end" she pushed the dagger into Taylor's open hand, closing her fingers around the handle.
Taylor tightened her fingers around the dagger, feeling the heaviness of the alien object within her hand. She of course was used to handling a sharp scalpel, but this dagger was different. Usually, she held a blade with the intention to save someone, but she knew that this blade now was a weapon. A weapon she was supposed to use for her own defence of course, but with the ultimate goal to kill the other person.
"You will be protected, Yssa" Lexa ignored Clarke's presence and instead turned over to the blonde doctor.
Taylor nodded slightly, hearing how the chanting outside seemed to suddenly increase in volume. The army was ready.
She was slightly surprised when both women reach out and each took one of her hands for a moment, giving it a slight squeeze. Taylor could see both of them straightening and their features evened out as they let go of her.
"It is time" Lexa said in a calm tone, nodding to Clarke once before she strode out of the tent. Her back rigid and her hand resting on the pommel of her sword at her hip.
Taylor lost her feeling of time as soon as they stood directly in front of the Mountain. The ground beneath their feet gave a noticeable lurch as soon as Raven's team had obviously fulfilled their part and the bomb had detonated.
Anya stayed close to Taylor, already shielding the blonde doctor although there was no real threat just yet.
Some snipers must have already taken their positions in disguise and once Clarke and Lexa finally tried to get closer to the door of the Mountain, the shooting began.
Taylor felt the hair on her arms rise when everything suddenly played out like it had in the show. In the end Lincoln shot an arrow at a small bomb on the mechanism of the door and the light over the door finally died, signalling that it could be opened.
"They will take out too many warriors" Lexa assessed with a frown, signalling for a small group of her most trusted warriors to support Indra's unit. "The door needs to be opened" she ordered in Clarke's direction.
The first real difference Taylor noticed now though was that Skykru managed to pull open the door before the shooting on the ridge had stopped.
She watched how the door was pulled open inch by inch and slowly the opening was large enough to fit through. Taylor was almost surprised that there were no soldiers from the Mountain already waiting at the entrance, but it seemed to be clear. Could the Mountain Men really have been arrogant enough to think that they would not get inside?
"Now is our chance" Lexa said with a grim expression and together with Clarke the commander led the first of her warriors towards the open door.
Taylor felt Anya's strong presence beside her and the general gave her a slight push to follow behind Lexa and Clarke into the Mountain.
Taylor looked around quickly, but before she really had the chance to analyse what she was seeing beside a few walls made of concrete, there was suddenly another crashing sound and the door fell shut behind them.
"No!" Taylor screeched as she whirled around to the closed door. Somehow the mechanism of the door had come back to life and the lamps above it showed a red signal, meaning the door had somehow been locked again.
"This had not been supposed to happen…" Taylor muttered under her breath in disbelieve. She looked around and noticed with a sinking heart that she was basically trapped inside of the Mountain now together with Lexa, Anya, a handful of warriors and Clarke.
She only realized now that the electricity within the Mountain must somehow be still working. This could only mean though that even the increased bomb had not been enough to destroy their power source. Taylor felt her heart sink at the realization how badly their plan was already failing. They were separated from most parts of their army and she had no idea just how many soldiers were within the Mountain right now.
It was obvious though that Clarke had absolutely no intention of stopping where they were "Come. I know the way" the blonde Skykru leader exclaimed.
Lexa and Anya, same as the other grounders were looking around in astonished disbelief.
"Alarm. Every citizen needs to come into level 5 right now" a voice suddenly resonated around them.
Taylor looked up to the hidden speaker in the wall. Of course, the turbines indeed had been destroyed and the Mountain Men needed to gather on level 5 where they could uphold their protection against the radio activity. They must have had some rest electricity and maybe focused it to hold the main door.
All of them turned around when there were suddenly loud footsteps on the hall around the corner. Taylor tightened her hand around the dagger Anya had given her.
Anya and Lexa both stood themselves in front of Taylor, holding up their sword, ready for a fight. While Taylor internally panicked, if they were running into a large patrol of the soldiers of the Mountain, they would be killed off before they could do anything.
Two warriors approached around the corner first, while Clarke and Taylor stayed a little behind.
Taylor held her breath as one of them suddenly rounded the corner, sword raised.
"STOP!" someone shouted and Bellamy came around the corner with raised hands.
Bellamy, Jasper and Clarke immediately reunited, while they looked at the grounders and Taylor in distrust, although at least Bellamy had seen her before in TonDC.
"Where is the army?" Bellamy asked in a desperate tone.
"Locked outside" Clarke retorted with a slight frown.
"And what now?" Maya spoke up and her voice sounded a little distorted as she was wearing a hazmat suit.
Taylor looked at her. The girl appeared frail and pale. No wonder, she had never seen sunlight in her life. "You need more oxygen tanks" she said in a clear tone. Now that they were alone inside of the Mountain, she had no idea just what would happen.
The girl looked at her with a perplexed expression, she nodded though when Taylor added to get as many as she could in an urgent tone. She was fairly certain that Jasper for example would gladly offer to donate bone marrow to Maya to safe her life.
Bellamy walked over to the door and tried to open it, using his key card, but the card was not accepted and the light remained red.
Jasper agreed to accompany Maya on her search for oxygen tanks and Bellamy and Clarke had decided that they needed to speak to Dante.
Lexa had not been there to accept the deal of the Mountain Men, so, the commander proclaimed to lead warriors to the place where her own people were supposed to be trapped. Taylor quickly reasoned with Anya that she probably could be of better help if she followed Clarke and Bellamy, so the general agreed to accompany her as protection, separating from the rest of the grounders.
Taylor followed them with a slight frown as she tried to remember the exact actions which happened inside of the Mountain during the battle in the show.
"What do you think Dante will do for you?" Taylor quickened her step, approaching Clarke.
"He is the president. He can order his people to stand down" the blonde leader proclaimed in a sure tone.
Taylor slightly shook her head. She knew that the old man was not the president any longer and that his son had taken over from him. But should she tell that to Clarke and Bellamy now? She wondered if the two would even believe her.
She did not have to decide though as they now indeed ran into soldiers from the Mountain. Taylor gasped in surprise and pain as Anya who wanted to protect her, suddenly pushed her hard and she collided with the wall next to them.
The shots which rang through the corridor sounded so much louder through the echo and Taylor covered her ears as she now cowered low to the ground. Directly in front of her, Clarke was doing the same while Anya suddenly jumped into action.
Taylor could only watch in utter astonishment how Anya took out all four of the Mountain Men before she caught a single bullet.
Bellamy and Clarke both seemed impressed as well and Taylor got back to her feet a little shakily, feeling all the pains still lingering inside her body, assisted by Anya who immediately returned to her side.
"Come on, there may be more soldiers close" Bellamy said, motioning them all back into motion.
She stayed slightly behind once they reached the rooms in which Dante was staying right now and simply watched how Clarke and the man spoke.
The man did not seem utterly surprised to see Clarke, but the presence of the two grounder warriors was obviously baffling to him.
She followed them all back through the halls of the Mountain to the commando central. Monty was able to open the door just like he did in the show.
Taylor looked onto the monitors in horror, recognizing Raven being drilled right at this moment. The scene had already appeared horrible on the show, but seeing it life now, was something different.
"He will not help us" Bellamy finally put an end to Clarke trying to convince Dante to stop her people from being drilled.
"When everyone of Skykru donates bone marrow on their free will and with enough time in between, then everyone can survive" Taylor turned away from the numerous monitors, looking at the old man with desperate grey eyes. She knew that Clarke would shoot him in a moment if he did not comply.
"And what then?" Dante retorted in a calm but strong tone.
"Tell them to stop the drilling right now!" Clarke interrupted them, reaching for one of the radios.
"No" Dante said, looking at her with calm eyes.
Anya was looking at the man with almost feral eyes and it was clear she would have greatly enjoyed killing him with her bare hands.
Clarke spoke into the radio and Carl Emmerson answered and she ordered him to hand the radio to the president Cage Wallace.
"Monty, can you open the main door from here?" Taylor asked, turning to the scrawny boy with a slight hope.
Monty's expression was unsure, but he typed something on the computer in front of him. He shook his head a moment later "No, it is secured by a master code".
"Who has that?" Taylor turned back to Dante who smirked slightly, but did not answer verbally.
Bellamy huffed under his breath "I am sure his son must have it now".
Taylor could only listen to the short interaction between Clarke and Cage before the blonde Skykru leader raised her gun, pointing it at the old man's chest and pulled the trigger. She closed her eyes as the shot rang through the small room and there was a high-pitched tone within her ears for a moment, while Dante crumbled to the ground.
"We have another problem" Taylor said, pointing to Emmerson being sent their way from Cage.
"Monty can you program everything that level 5 is irradiated?" Clarke asked her friend in a desperate tone.
The boy nodded although his expression clearly showed of how much of a bad idea, he though this to be.
"Clarke there has to be another solution" Bellamy spoke up, shaking his head "There are innocents in there, people who helped us and children".
"None of them are innocent" Anya almost growled through gritted teeth. She was standing close to Taylor and getting at least a little comfort from their close proximity.
"Then show me one" Clarke retorted heatedly and her expression turned really desperate when Raven was removed from the table shown on the monitor, only to be replaced with her mother.
"Monty, hurry up, please" she said to the boy typing hurriedly on the computer in front of him.
"The army needs to get inside" Taylor said "Can you look into the harvest room?" she turned back to Monty, wondering if Lexa and the warriors had found the room now.
Anya gasped when she looked at the screen. All of the cages were still filled with her own people and the group of warriors who had accompanied Lexa laid slain on the ground of the room. The only one which obviously was still alive was Lexa and the commander was being held at gunpoint. A wound was bleeding profusely from above one of her temples and the weapons had been taken from her.
Taylor watched on in horror how Lexa was shackled and pulled from the room. All of the grounders in the cages were in uproar.
Taylor watched helplessly how Monty hacked into the system, readying it for the irradiation of the Mountain.
"Why did you stop?" Clarke turned over to Monty.
"It is done" Monty said in a clearly pained tone "Only this lever needs to be pulled and the air vents will be reversed and pull in air from outside".
Suddenly there was a loud noise from the door which was basically blown open from a detonation.
Taylor whirled around and felt herself being pushed to seek cover from Anya. The general already stormed in the direction of the entrance of the room, attacking the first Mountain Man soldier and taking the man down.
The man had not come alone though and before Clarke could have decided to pull the lever, chaos broke out in the room.
Anya was busy fighting wit Emmerson, who seemed to be the most skilled and she tried to keep an eye on Taylor.
Bellamy and Monty were trying to fight as well, while Clarke had been caught off-guard and had gotten a hit to the head, knocking her out for the moment.
Taylor took a step closer to the lever, feeling her insides twist and turn uncomfortably.
While the fight was still going on around her, the radio lying next to Clarke came back to life. Cage was shouting into it that he would drill the commander if they did not give up the command room.
Taylor watched for a second with wide grey eyes how an unconscious Abby was pulled from the table and indeed being replaced with Lexa.
She did not think for more than the blink of a second before she bent down and picked up the radio "If you harm her, then I will irradiate level 5 and kill all of you" she threatened and her tone had gotten dangerously cold although her eyes filled with tears.
Cage only laughed though, not paying too much attention that someone else was on the radio now and just as he gave the order to start the drilling and the commander's pants was being ripped open, Taylor reached out with shaky fingers.
"I am sorry" she said as tears blurred her vision and she pulled down the lever.
Anya finally managed to overpower Emmerson and turned over to Taylor. The blonde doctor had sunk down next to the computer and her arms hugged her knees to her chest "I am so sorry" she whispered the words nonstop while she cried.
Bellamy woke up first, seeing the grounder general trying to obviously comfort the blonde woman he still found suspicious. He shook Clarke and Monty awake and all of them watch how Taylor cried.
"Shhh, Yssa" Anya tried to sooth the upset blonde woman, pulling her up from the ground. They needed to free all of their people and get out of wretched place.
Taylor walked through the Mountain together with them in a dazed state, being pulled along by Anya.
They first went to the room where Lexa and Skykru was being held and Clarke immediately freed Lexa first and then all of her own people.
The commander of course noticed Taylor's state right away and she walked over to Anya and the blonde, not paying Skykru any mind. "Are you hurt?" she asked the blonde doctor in a worried tone.
"I am so sorry. I killed them all…" Taylor brough out in a weak tone, with tears still streaming down her face.
Taylor left the room together with Anya and Lexa, both of them flanking and supporting her. Both actually had to catch her, once they walked past the room where all the Mountain Men had just died.
Taylor could barely look inside of the room. Most of the Mountain Men had just been sitting at the large table and now all of them were crumbled over, their skin blistered and all of them dead. The last thing she remembered before everything turned dark around her, was thinking that she had failed in saving any of them.
