This Black Blood is Without End
Chapter 13 – Wreckage
The early afternoon sun bore down on the survivors of the dropship, now numbering ninety-six, the unusually warm day only increasing the misery they felt as they sweated and began the unpleasant task of clearing the dead bodies that now littered the interior of the camp. It had been only a short time since they had repelled their attackers, and most of those who were able bodied were now working to stack the dead bodies of the Reapers in a rough heap, while others were helping the half dozen wounded into the relative safety of the dropship and tending them as best they could.
As disgusting as moving freshly mutilated corpses was in the growing heat of the day, Lexa knew that the unsavory task was not one that could be put off. Another attack may come at any moment, and if the gate or walls were breached a second time, the bodies would only be in the way, and would make mounting a proper defense even more difficult. Plus, though they had succeeded in fighting off the monstrous men who had attacked them once so far, the combined courage of the young people around her was currently hanging together by the barest, most fragile of threads. Being bombarded by the fetid sights and smells of fresh corpses all around them was not good for morale, and she needed these Sky People to be both physically and mentally ready to fight again soon if necessary.
Lexa turned the fist-sized rock she was holding over in her hands for several seconds more before letting it drop back into the fast drying mud at her feet. She'd found the stone lying next to where she had faced the last Reaper – the one who had almost succeeded in killing her because she had been surprised in a critical moment. She was almost certain that the large bruise slowly forming between her shoulder blades had been caused by that very rock being thrown at her vulnerable back. She was also almost certain she knew exactly who had thrown it.
As the teens continued to reluctantly carry out her gruesome instructions, Lexa abandoned her suspicious thoughts for now and turned back to the man she knew to be Lincoln, regarding him quietly for several long moments. Wells, Finn and Aden stood beside her in a rough semicircle, also watching the stranger intently, though so far they had all waited for her to speak to him first. Lincoln gazed back at them, his bare hands clenched and tense at his sides, blood from the fight splattered in lurid patterns across his chest and arms. He had sheathed his swords and removed his facemask as soon as the fighting ceased, and she was glad he had done so. Obviously he was making an effort to appear like less of a threat to them, but a warrior as physically powerful and skilled as he was looked menacing even when unarmed and without his mask. Even were he to stand before them completely naked and helpless, there would still be no denying that this was a very dangerous man.
Deciding finally to break the silence before either Wells or Finn lost patience first, Lexa took a step towards him and spoke to him in a cautious, neutral tone, her own sword sheathed and posture purposefully relaxed and confident, hands clasped loosely behind her back. This may be Lincoln, but that did not necessarily mean he was the exact same man she had known. She wanted to trust him – he was a member of her birth clan, after all, and Clarke's friend – but Lexa well knew that she couldn't take anything for granted in this strange world. She would need to tread very carefully in dealing with him, especially considering the complicated emotions his mere presence created within her.
"Thank you for warning us," she began, wanting to start with a measure of sincerity, "You saved a great many lives today by coming here, and by choosing to fight with us… We owe you a great debt."
She saw him relax just the barest amount at her words, which had been her intention. Everything she said to him in the next few minutes would be critical, she knew, as Lincoln could very well be the key to everything she hoped to accomplish. He was obviously Trikru, and though Octavia Blake was not among the Sky People in this reality, he clearly still sympathized with their plight, just as he had in her and Aden's time. If she could convince him now to continue to be sympathetic, it was possible he might be willing to speak to the current leaders of Trikru on their behalf. He had acted as a go-between for Clarke and Anya before, she knew. Perhaps he could do the same for her. Lincoln had always tried to straddle the divide between Skaikru and the rest of the Clans, fiercely refusing to pick a side even when it meant defying her orders. It was for that very reason that she had been forced to banish him all those months ago. Now, his reluctance to choose sides and his ability to see both perspectives were the very traits she hoped might help her build a more peaceful world than the last.
Lincoln hadn't responded to her words, continuing to stare at her without expression, his body still coiled and ready as though he might run at any moment.
"I am Lexa Black… This is my brother, Aden, and this is Wells Jaha," she told him, introducing herself and gesturing to the two others beside her. It had taken all of her concentration not to automatically introduce herself as 'Leksa kom Trikru'. She could hardly imagine what his reaction to that declaration would have been.
"I believe Finn already introduced himself in the forest when we first met," she added, nodding her head towards him. Lincoln's eyes flickered from one to the other as she pointed each of them out, still giving nothing away.
"What is your name?" she asked, her eyes narrowing when he failed to answer her after several long, awkward seconds.
We don't have time for this… He already crossed a line by warning us, and he willingly fought on our side just minutes ago. Why is he hesitating now?
"I know you can understand me… It's alright to speak freely here, you have my word that no harm will come to you from anyone in this camp," she said after a moment, some of the impatience she was feeling leaking into her voice despite her best efforts.
The Commander of the Twelve Clans was not accustom to having her questions go unanswered. As Lexa Black in this reality, however, she was beginning to accept the fact that her name did not engender the immediate fear, respect, and deference that her title had in her previous life. She was not recognized as the physical reincarnation of an eternal spirit of great power, nor was she the fearsome leader of a massive coalition... No, as far as anyone here knew, she was merely a young woman who had fallen from the sky, and who currently led a ragtag group of teenagers struggling to survive. If she could not convince even Lincoln that they were worthy allies, however, then there was no chance she would be able to convince the rest of Trikru. Without the medical supplies and expertise of the Ark, it was also doubtful that she could recreate Clarke's gamble of turning a Reaper back into a man. Lexa would need to find some other way to bring the Clans into peaceful negotiations with Skaikru.
Lexa released a slow breath and forced herself to relax, breaking her fierce eye contact with the stubborn man. She was getting too far ahead of herself, she knew. There wouldn't be any negotiating of any sort as long as Lincoln refused to talk. She needed to change tactics, to put him more at ease. The Woods Clan had some very specific ideas about guest rights and what it meant to have safe passage in another's home… Perhaps some basic hospitality was in order.
"Come, let's go somewhere out of the sun where we can talk more comfortably," she said, gesturing towards the shade of the brightly colored tents, forcing a more welcoming expression on her face. She was anxious for answers and she ached to pin him down and ask him every question she could think of, but she knew she wouldn't get the answers she wanted if Lincoln didn't first feel safe enough to talk.
"Aden, go fetch our guest a drink of water, please," she ordered as she strode away, not waiting to see if Lincoln would follow her or if the boy would do as she said. She walked confidently towards the nearest tent, drawing it open and checking to see if anyone was inside. Three scared, pale faces stared back at her, two girls and one boy, and she glared at them harshly. They'd been hiding in here since the attack, no doubt.
"Get out," she ordered, her voice a dangerous growl. The three scrambled to their feet, hustling past her to get outside, careful not to touch her as they slid by. Once they had left she entered the now empty tent, feeling immediate relief to be out of the hot sun, and the others soon joined her inside. They formed a rough circle at first, Lincoln remaining closest to the exit, his eyes scanning his surroundings warily. Wells looked apprehensive and moved to stand closer to Lexa – though whether it was to show a more unified front, or because he was frightened of what the other man might do, she wasn't sure – while Finn remained standing nearer the warrior, staring at him with fascination. When Aden returned with the water moments later, he went straight to Lincoln and offered the canteen to him with a bright smile, clearly not intimidated by him in the least. The man's lips twitched slightly, almost smiling in return, and he took the water from the boy, taking a long drink before handing it back.
"Thank you, Aden," Lexa said as the boy moved back to her side. Now framed with Wells on her right and the Natblida on her left, Lexa leveled her intense, focused green eyes back on the Lincoln.
"Now, why don't you tell us your name?" she asked.
"Lincoln," he admitted finally, grunting the word just barely loud enough to be heard. She waited for a beat, not surprised when he didn't give his clan affiliation or say more.
"Lincoln…" she repeated, as though hearing it for the first time. This felt extraordinarily strange, pretending not to know him. It was much worse than when she had met Finn and Murphy in this reality. She had hardly known those two, other than the fact that they had each been her prisoner for a short time. With Lincoln it felt like the two of them were merely playing a game, and at any moment he would recognize her for who she truly was.
"How did they find our camp?" she asked, though she suspected she already knew the answer.
"Your hunting party," he said, confirming her suspicions, "They wandered too far west chasing that wounded deer. Reapers are savages, but they can also be smart... when they need to be. They followed them back to you."
"Reapers?" Finn asked, "Is that what those people are called?"
"Not people," Lincoln growled, shooting a severe glance over at the handsome boy, "They've been changed, driven insane… They eat the flesh of the dead."
A chill went through the Sky People at his grim pronouncement, both Finn and Wells looking horrified.
"Why? What happened to them?" Wells asked.
"It doesn't matter," the other man replied, shaking his head.
"No, it doesn't matter," Lexa agreed, looking to steer the conversation once more. Of course, she knew how the Reapers were made, but there were more pressing things that needed to be discussed first.
"What matters is whether or not they will come back… We killed a great many of them today in this attack. Was it enough to keep them from trying again?"
Lincoln looked back at her, his face grave.
"They will return eventually, and in greater numbers than before… You aren't safe here this close to the Mountain. There are too many of you, and they know you are here now. You need to leave as soon as possible or you will all be taken."
"Taken?! What do you mean, taken? I thought they just wanted to kill us," Finn said, confusion in his eyes, though he was clearly remembering his own captivity by Reapers several days before.
Lincoln just shook his head impatiently, perhaps becoming just a bit annoyed by their apparent ignorance.
"There are almost a hundred people in this camp, Lincoln, and we have built sturdy walls… Are you saying that this won't be enough? Are there truly so many Reapers that they could take this entire camp even if we are prepared and ready for an attack?" she asked, a note of disbelief in her voice.
She knew that things were a bit different in this reality, but how was it possible that there were so many Reapers, and that they were so well organized? How were they able to be this aggressive so far from the Mountain? When they had first seen Lincoln in the woods that second night, he had warned them in Trigedasleng that they needed to leave, that their camp wasn't safe. She had assumed he meant it was because they were trespassing on Trigeda lands, but now she was beginning to suspect that the reason was both more obvious and much more sinister.
"They have large numbers, and they are desperate... Even most of my own people no longer live this close to their lands anymore."
"Your people?" she asked, latching onto his words immediately. This was exactly where she wanted the conversation to go. Lincoln looked suddenly wary at her interest.
"If your people are also enemies of the Reapers, then maybe we can help each other…" she began, but her words were interrupted by shouting from outside. All of them startled and turned towards the tent entrance just as Monty Green's head popped though it, his eyes wide and excited.
"Guys, you need to get out here and see this! You won't believe it!"
Lexa eased her hand away from her half-drawn sword and saw Lincoln do the same. With the way Monty was acting, she very much doubted they were coming under attack again.
"Ah hell, what is it now?" Wells moaned as they all followed the young Farm Stationer outside.
"What is it, Monty?" Lexa demanded, then looked upwards when she saw his hand extend and point towards the sky above. Behind her, she heard Finn gasp in surprise and a swift inhalation of breath from Lincoln when they both spotted it a moment later.
"Something's coming down from the Ark!" Monty explained cheerfully, almost grinning in his amazement. All around them, each and every one of the Sky People had dropped what they were doing and were staring upwards, mouths open and eyes wide. A swell of conversation and excited shouting rose throughout the camp, dozens more people stumbling out from their tents and the dropship to see what the sudden commotion was about.
"What is it, though? It looks too small to be a dropship," Finn said, and Wells echoed his agreement. Lexa stared at the brightly glowing dot in the sky as it grew closer and closer, a streak of clouds and smoke building behind it, trailing though the blue expanse like the lazy tail of a white cat.
"No, it's definitely not a dropship… Maybe a smaller ship of some kind?" Monty added, not sounding entirely sure.
"Whatever it is, it's going to land within just a few miles of us," she interrupted, her mind already working over this new problem. As if they didn't already have enough to deal with today, now there was this. Of course, if it was something, or someone, from the Ark, then this could be good news for them. It could be carrying much needed supplies, for instance… It could also be carrying more people.
… Clarke might be on that ship…
Lexa aggressively dismissed the distracting thought, annoyed by her own foolish hopes even as she wasn't able to keep herself from having them. She shaded her eyes, following the spiraling descent of the strange craft. A parachute had opened, slowing its fall, and it was now drifting gently towards the earth. She tried to judge just how far away and in what direction it would land, her chest tightening when she realized where it was headed.
"I knew the Ark wouldn't just abandon us," Wells was saying confidently, his voice rising with a renewed sense of hope. He said the Ark, but undoubtedly he was thinking of his father, the Chancellor. "They must have found a way to send supplies down!"
"Yeah, that or they decided to maroon a few more poor bastards down here with us," a loud voice added from several feet away, and though she couldn't see who it was, she had no difficulty recognizing Murphy's snide tone. She felt a flash of anger when she heard him, the pain in her back seeming to grow, reminding her again of the stone that had been thrown at her.
She would need to deal with him later. There just wasn't time for it right now.
The small craft and it's large, billowing parachute disappeared behind a gently rolling hill in the distance, and Lexa turned back to the others as soon as it was out of sight.
"It's too far west," she growled, anger and frustration in her voice.
"Oh… crap," Finn sighed, everyone understanding immediately the importance of what she had just said.
Lincoln was nodding in agreement, his expression serious and brow slightly furrowed. She took a step closer to him, voice urgent and eyes intent on his.
"Did you see where it landed?" she asked, "Could you take us there and back in time?"
He didn't need to ask her what she meant. Surely everyone in a ten mile radius had seen that object fall from the sky. Any Reapers that were still in the area had likely seen it as well. If they did make an effort to recover whatever had come down from the Ark, then doubtless the Reapers would be all too happy to ambush them when they were out in the open and away from the safety of their walls. Lexa felt she knew these forests passably well, but she was not as intimately familiar with them as Lincoln was. If they had any hope of recovering whatever had come down from the Ark quickly enough to avoid being attacked by Reapers, they would need his help.
Lincoln still hadn't responded to her questions and she could see the conflict in him, the uncertainty. He had already put himself at great risk helping them once today.
"There may be people onboard," she explained, hoping the knowledge that lives were at stake might persuade him to help. "If the Reapers get to them first, they will all be killed… Or taken."
All eyes were on Lincoln now, a small crowd gathering around them as the young people waited to see what Lexa's plan was for this new development. After seeing her in action during the battle, the mood of the camp had shifted considerably in her favor. Most of the young survivors now felt confident that she knew what she was doing, and they looked to her with greater respect and trust than ever before. She had proven herself their leader in the blood and chaos of combat, and an even stronger sense of unity and purpose now held the camp together with Lexa at its head.
"I can take you, but we need to hurry," he finally agreed, and sighs of relief went through the crowd.
"Thank you," Lexa said solemnly, appreciate just how difficult of a situation she was placing him in.
"Jones, Monroe, Miller!" she shouted, and the three readily stepped forward, their faces anxious but determined. They had each done well during what she had seen of the fight, and she wanted them with her. Atom had been wounded badly in the thigh during the battle, and so he unfortunately wouldn't be able to join them. Lexa thought quickly, trying to decide how many others to take. There might be injured people at the landing sight, or a large amount of supplies to be carried. They needed to move quickly and stealthily, so she didn't want to take too many, but she still needed enough people to help with whatever they found.
"You, Martinez," she said, pointing to a young man in the crowd who was watching her with an eager expression, "You fought well earlier… You're coming with us."
Martinez nodded excitedly and moved to join her small group, his hands clutching a sword he had no doubt taken from one of the bodies of the Reapers.
She turned to another boy who towered above the others, his hair black and cut short, dark eyes brooding in a handsome face. John Mbege was not someone she completely trusted just yet. He had shown himself early on to be Murphy's friend, and had been one of the first to take off his medical wristband. She needed large, powerful fighters, however, and she had seen John take down a Reaper on his own in the earlier fight. Plus, she had noticed that he seemed to be distancing himself from Murphy over the past few days, and he had yet to defy any of her orders or cause trouble. He was a violent man, and that could be a valuable trait in a person if put to proper use.
"John, I know you like to fight," she said, raising an eyebrow at him challengingly, "What do you say?"
"I say you're all crazy…" he muttered, not looking at her.
There was some nervous laughter at this, then a voice in the back shouted just loud enough to be heard by everyone.
"What's the matter, John? You frightened?"
John spun and glared towards whoever had spoken, the golden brown skin on his face growing darker as he flushed slightly.
"You're all crazy, but so am I… I'm not scared of some stupid forest. Count me in."
Lexa's lips twitched in an effort to keep from smiling. These children might not be true warriors yet, but that didn't mean they lacked a warrior's pride.
"Good, grab your weapons and meet me by the gate," she ordered the hastily formed group, stopping Finn with a hand on his arm when he moved to go with them.
"No, Finn… You aren't coming. Neither are you, Aden," she said, her words met with two answering scowls.
"But, Lexa! I can help…"
"I know you can," she interrupted the boy, "But I need you here more. Wells will need your help if the Reapers attack the camp while we're gone."
Aden was too small to be of much use at the landing site, and she wanted him here at the camp in her place while she was gone. Plus, though he was proving himself capable in battle and had so far done very well for a boy his age and size, she knew he would not be able to keep up with the older teens running through the woods. She didn't want to hurt his pride by telling him that, however.
"Wells, you're in charge while I'm gone, but you listen to what Aden says," she told him, meeting his eyes so that he would know she was serious. "I know he's young, but he's smarter and better trained that most the people in this camp combined… You listen to him, understand?"
Wells nodded thoughtfully, glancing over at the glowering boy who was clearly still not pleased at being left behind. Lexa turned back to Finn.
"I'm going with you," Finn said, an obstinate expression on his face.
"No, you're not," she snarled, impatient to get going and not wanting to deal with his stubbornness. Time was wasting. Every second she spent here in camp made the recovery mission more dangerous.
"This is silly, Lexa… I can help!" he said, echoing Aden's earlier words.
"Really? Are you bringing a weapon, then?" she asked, her voice as cold and unforgiving as iron.
Didn't he understand? This was war… She didn't have time for his foolishness, and she couldn't bring someone along that refused to fight, and who she didn't trust to follow her orders without argument. She didn't dislike Finn, in fact he was starting to grow on her a little, but she didn't want him along on this mission. He was too reckless, too unpredictable.
"We don't have time for this… You're staying here Finn. That's final."
He glared back at her, shaking his head.
"You can't stop me from coming," he argued.
"Yes, I can."
Finn took a step towards the gate, trying to move past her. The many eyes of the crowd felt heavy on her as Lexa made a quick decision. The young Sky People were united behind her right now, but she couldn't afford to let people defy her commands in public like this. Mouth twisting downwards in distaste at what he was forcing her to do, Lexa ducked low and swept her leg out, catching Finn's legs and bringing him down to the ground. He let out a startled shout as he fell and quickly scrambled back to his knees, looking up at her with a shocked, betrayed expression.
Lexa didn't let it stop her from stepping forward and kneeing him directly in the face, the blow connecting with his forehead with a solid thwacking sound. The young man immediately reeled backwards in the dirt and grass, eyes rolling back in his skull, groaning as he lay there. He wasn't unconscious, she knew, merely stunned. She hadn't wanted to hit him hard enough to truly harm him, just enough to make a point.
"Get him in the dropship and tie him down. No one is to leave the camp while we are gone… Is that clear?" she ordered coldly, watching as the ring of surrounding faces all nodded, several people quickly moving forward to collect Finn's limp body from the ground. She searched the crowd quickly to see if anyone seemed upset over her rough treatment of one of their own, but no one appeared overly sympathetic to his plight.
Lincoln watched all of his unfold with impassive eyes. She lifted her chin to him, then tilted her head towards the closed gate of the camp.
"Let's get going, we're running out of time."
They turned to leave, but a new voice called out, making them both pause a moment more.
"Wait! I need to come with!"
It was Monty. She cocked her head at him, surprised by the confidence of his assertion, especially considering how she had just handled the last person who had volunteered himself to come along. He swallowed and looked nervous under her gaze, but he didn't back down.
"The ship might have communications equipment I can use to fix the radio… No one else will know what to look for, what we need, but I do."
It was true… Lexa had forgotten about the radio. She wasn't used to thinking about technology, or how it could be used to help them. Monty had so far failed to find a way to use the medical wrist bands to communicate with the Ark, but he was still the best qualified one among them to salvage parts from whatever they found.
"Very well, grab a weapon… We're leaving right now."
Several short minutes later, the heavy wooden gate of the dropship camp groaned as it was forced open just wide enough to allow the eight members of the hastily formed rescue party to slip out into the forest. As soon as they were through, the gate slammed shut behind them, the heavy logs falling into place, locking them outside.
A few miles distant, the suited figure within the escape pod hung limp against her restraints, the small pod smoking and clicking as its metal cooled. Raven's dark eyelashes fluttered once as though she might wake, the small cut on her forehead dripping blood slowly down her face, but she did not stir. Around her, the dark forest shadows seemed to creep closer.
Against all odds, the brave young mechanic had succeeded in landing safely and almost directly on target. Wounded and unconscious, she had no idea that the true danger to her life was only growing greater with every second.
oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
"We're close," Lincoln whispered, crouching low in the lush green foliage beside her, pointing to the southwest with his drawn sword. They were all now holding their bare weapons ready in their fists, having slowed from their initial headlong rush towards the crash. It was cooler in the shade of the forest, but sweat still dripped from all of their faces from the combined fear and exertion of the last hour. Now that they were nearing the landing site, the chance of an ambush was steadily increasing. If Reapers had beaten then here, then they would no doubt be lying in wait.
"How far?" she whispered back, looking in the direction he indicated.
"Just over that hill, I think. We should be able to see it on the other side. Do you see those broken treetops? That must be where it came down."
Lexa turned to the others, thinking fast.
"Miller, Jones, you go in front with Lincoln. Monroe, John, Martinez, Monty… you stay with me. We will hang back a ways just in case it's a trap."
She trusted Miller and Jones the most, and they were both good fighters. They would be best able to back up Lincoln while scouting the site and would stay calm if things went poorly. Hopefully the five of them would be able to get there in time to defeat any would be ambushers with a counter ambush of their own.
"I'll whistle twice if the area is clear," Lincoln told her, then not wasting a moment more, the three of them slipped forward, disappearing over the small hill. After waiting several moments, Lexa and the others followed, trying to be as quiet as possible. The gaping hole of shattered branches and tree limbs became more obvious the closer they got, and the sun glinted off of the small craft that now lay nestled in the underbrush, its faded white paint charred and burned from its fiery descent.
Behind it, its large parachute billowed and flapped when a slight breeze caught it, partially tangled in the brush. Lexa frowned, squinting her eyes in an attempt to see the distant object more clearly through the trees. Something about it looked familiar, as though it was something she had seen many times before… She tested her memories, waiting for a new recollection from the Ark to rise within her, perhaps triggered by the sight of the small craft, but it never came. Was it something she had seen before in her own life, then? A rising sense of unease grew within her at the thought, though she wasn't sure why.
Two sharp whistles reached them on the air several minutes later, and the five of them hurried to join the others at the landing site.
"It's an escape pod!" Monty said, clearly excited by the discovery.
"Hey, there's someone inside!" Monroe called. She was standing in front of the pod, having used her sleeve to wipe clear a small section of the dirty glass so that she could peer inwards.
"John, Martinez, keep watch," Lexa ordered, "Reapers might still be on their way."
When the two boys nodded at her command and took up their posts, Lexa turned and strode over to where the others were gathered at the side of the pod.
"The door's fused shut… Ouch! Watch out, it's still a little hot."
Monty pulled back his hand, rubbing his hot fingers against his pant leg.
"Let's force it open… Monroe, give me your sword," Jones suggested.
"Hey, why do we need to use my sword?" the girl grumbled, annoyed.
Their bickering ceased when Lexa joined them and they all stepped aside to make room for her. Their movement allowed her to finally see the escape pod's side door, and what she saw made her freeze in surprise and alarm
P…O…L…..I…S…
"No…" she gasped, not able to stop the surprised denial from escaping her.
"What is it? Do you recognize it?" Monty asked, curiosity and excitement in his voice.
She did… Of course she did! But what was it doing here? It didn't make any sense… This was a sacred object. It was the blessed vessel of the first Commander, from which she had descended from the heavens to save humanity from the Entity. It was a holy relic greatly treasured by her people… Only Nightbloods, the Flamekeeper, and ordained members of the Order of the Blood were allowed to look upon it. Anyone else doing so was blasphemy of the highest order.
How is this possible?!
Lexa felt her entire world shifting, her understanding of herself, the sacred legacy of the Commander whose spirit she carried, and all she had been taught as a young Natblida shifting and turning within her. Suddenly, a new memory filled her mind, and this time it was from the Ark. Lexa Black stood in a brightly lit room, the soft glow of computer terminals surrounding her. Before her rested the escape pod, un-burnt and undamaged, a slight layer of dust covering it where it stood in its' unused launch bay. From where she stood in the memory, Lexa could clearly make out the lettering that decorated the side of the pod, the bold letters shattering everything she had thought she knew before.
S
"Yes, I recognize it," she said finally, her voice sounding strangely numb and distant even to her own ears, "It's an escape pod from Polaris station… It was never used. I'm amazed it still worked."
"They're a lucky bastard, whoever is inside!" Jones exclaimed irreverently, "It's got to be at least a hundred years old… Escape pods were supposed to be disposable. They weren't designed to last that long."
After several minutes of combined effort – during which Lexa struggled to calm herself and not think about the implications of what she had just discovered – they managed to wrench the door open. A cloud of smoke billowed out of the pod once it opened, and they all coughed, waving their arms in a useless attempt to clear the air. A dark form appeared within the pod, the suited figure still strapped to their seat, unmoving. Whoever it was in there was wearing a full spacesuit with an attached oxygen tank, and it looked to be still intact, which had undoubtedly been what saved them from suffocating to death. A small electrical fire glowed in the panels to one side, the source of the noxious smoke and growing heat. Monty swore, pushing the others aside so that he could reach beneath the seat, pulling free a small fire extinguisher after a moment of searching. He checked the label quickly before using it to put out the tiny green and blue flames. While he did that, Monroe slide over to the person strapped in the pod, her nimble fingers working to remove their helmet. Lexa stepped back and let the Sky People work, knowing that their expertise in this situation far outstripped her own. Lincoln stood beside her, his sharp eyes keeping careful watch on the surrounding trees.
"Huh… the crazy bastard is a girl," Jones grunted in consternation, "And she's pretty."
"Shut up, Jones," Monroe muttered, turning the girl's head carefully towards them so that she could check the wound on her forehead.
"I know her! It's Raven Reyes… she works for engineering," Monty said, causing Lexa's head to snap back to the pod, eyes searching out the girls' face.
Raven…
Today was just one surprise right after another. It had been several months since she had last seen the fiery young woman, but she couldn't possibly forget her face.
Yet another Sky Person I had tortured and almost killed… At least this universe is being predictable.
First Finn, then Murphy, now even Raven was here. The list of Sky People she had known personally and was yet to meet was growing shorter by the day, and yet, still no sign of Clarke. Truly the spirits had a cruel sense of humor.
The young woman regained consciousness the moment they started to move her from the pod. Her large, chocolate colored eyes blinked and gained focus, suited limbs flailing as she struggled to find her balance and shrug free of their supporting arms. She looked around her in confusion at the strange faces that circled her.
"Raven, it's me, Monty… Are you alright?" he asked, holding out a steadying hand.
"Monty?" she croaked, then lifted a gloved hand to her forehead, "Ouch."
"You hit your head."
"Well… duh," she groaned sarcastically, looking at the blood on her fingers, and Jones laughed at her snarky reply. Lexa remembered her as being pretty fierce and undaunted by life in general, and it seemed her earlier impression had been a correct one.
Raven looked over her shoulder at the still smoldering pod, a smile growing on her face, lighting up her features with excited pride.
"Holy shit… I survived!?" she said, laughing in disbelief. She turned in a slow circle, tilting her bare face up into the sun, closing her eyes for a second, a blissful expression on her face.
"This is amazing… I can't believe I'm actually on the ground right now!"
The other Sky People all shared small smiles, amused by her excitement and awe at being on the ground. They all remembered just how amazed and joyful they had felt immediately after their own landing… Before people started trying to murder them, of course. Raven dropped her head and opened her eyes, brow furrowing.
"Where's Finn?" she asked.
"He's back at the dropship," Lexa answered her, stepping forward, "Which is where we need to be… We need to hurry, there isn't much time."
"Slow down… Who the hell are you?"
"I'm Lexa Black."
"Wait, Lexa? As in, Anya's assistant, Lexa?" Raven asked, her tone suddenly brightening and much friendlier.
Lexa startled at her mention of Anya's name. In all the excitement of the past few days, she had almost forgotten that her mentor still lived on the Ark in this reality.
"You know Anya?" she asked.
"Hell yes… She's the crazy person that came up with this brilliant plan. She sent me down here. The Ark is dying, running out of oxygen… They're going to kill hundreds of people if we don't get this radio working and tell them the ground is safe."
If she had expected them to act surprised over her news about what was happening to the Ark, she was sorely disappointed.
"You brought a radio?" Monty asked, not waiting for her to respond before climbing into the pod in search of it. A palpable sense of rising anticipation filled the group now, true hope growing within them for the first time since they had landed. Raven started shrugging out of her bulky space suit, Monroe and Miller helping her with the clasps she couldn't reach.
"Yeah, everything we need is right there. We just need to get it to the dropship and I can install it. Shouldn't take more than a couple hours to get it working."
"We've been here too long," Lincoln growled from behind them, urgency in his voice, "We need to get moving."
Raven startled, noticing the strangely dressed warrior standing in the shadows for the first time.
"Who the hell is that!?"
"Raven, we don't have much time, it isn't safe here," Lexa interrupted, knowing that Lincoln was correct. "What do we need to make the radio work? We can carry it back to the dropship, but we need to leave… Now."
Raven pulled her shocked gaze away from the Trikru warrior, shaking her head as though to clear her thoughts.
"Uhh, it's all in those crates there… There are only three of them, but one of them is pretty heavy. It will take two people to carry it."
"That's fine, there are enough of us."
Lexa called for John and Martinez, and the two boys joined them, the group quickly dividing up the crates among the strongest of them. Raven, now free of her spacesuit, pulled a small pack she pulled from the pod over her shoulders, holding another small metal case in her hands.
"This one is actually for you," she told Lexa, giving her a friendly smile.
Lexa didn't smile back. It felt strange for the other girl to be smiling at her at all… The last time Lexa had seen her face to face, she had just finished torturing her after having accused her of her own attempted assassination. Of course, she had learned that Raven wasn't the one who had tried to kill her, but if looks could actually kill a person, then Raven would have ended her life many times over after Finn's execution.
They left shortly later, hurrying through the forest in a race against time, now more focused on speed then on silence. They had only gone a few minutes when they heard a faint, angry howling erupt behind them from the direction of the landing site. The sound caused them all to freeze for a moment, eyes wide on each other.
The Reapers had found the empty escape pod.
"What the hell is that? What's going on?" Raven panted, exhaustion in her voice.
She looked to be in good physical shape, but she had large circles under her eyes and was clearly tired and sore from her difficult landing, and she was struggling to keep up with them. Her space born body was not yet as used to the heat, humidity, and natural gravity of the planet's surface as they were. She was also clearly confused by everything that was going on.
"There's no time to explain," Monty told her, "We're not the only ones down here, and they'll kill us if they catch us!"
Raven's eyes flickered over to Lincoln, mouth opening to ask another question.
"Let's go, hurry!" Lexa hissed before she could, getting the group moving again. There would be time enough for explanations once they were safely back at the dropship.
No longer bothering trying to be quiet, the group ran through the forest, their breaths heavy as they hurtled across the rugged terrain, stopping only briefly once or twice to change over who was carrying the crates. The awkward weight of the heaviest crate slowed them the most. It needed to be carried by two people, which made running difficult, but in the end it took them much less time to return to camp then it had to find the escape pod. Any time they grew tired and slowed, a fresh wave of maddened howls from the pursuing Reapers in the distance was enough to spur them on once more.
When the rough walls of the dropship camp rose into view through the trees, a collective moan of relief travelled through the weary party. Lexa stumbled to a stop beside Lincoln, waving the others onwards.
"Go, we're right behind you," she said, and they turned their tired bodies back towards the camp without argument, leaving the two of them behind.
"Thank you, Lincoln, for helping us."
"It was the right thing to do," he told her, watching her face carefully.
Lexa slowed her ragged breathing, trying to quickly gather her scattered thoughts. She would not be able to force Lincoln back into the camp for further talks, she knew. Whatever entreaties she wanted to make to him, she would have to make them now.
"Your people… We don't need to be enemies. Clearly the Reapers are a threat to both of us. We can help each other, fight them together. Will you go to your people and tell them this?" she asked, wishing she had more time to ease into this conversation. There was never enough time today… It felt as though the whole wretched day had consisted of rushing from one disaster to the next, and it wasn't even over yet.
"My people… Trikru, they don't trust outsiders easily. I can tell them about you, but I don't know if they will listen."
"Can you set up a meeting, then? Let me talk to the leader of Trikru," she told him, the Trigedasleng word rolling easily off her tongue, "If you can't convince them that we would be better off as allies, then maybe I can."
"It's not that simple," Lincoln growled, shaking his head.
"Peace is never simple, Lincoln, but we still have to try," she argued, letting him hear the passion in her voice. It was true, war was always the easier solution, the more appealing path for a people who lived with blood and violence every day. It was not the kind of future she wanted to see for this world, however, and she knew Lincoln felt the same.
They stared at each other for a long, tense moment, both measuring the other with their eyes.
"I'll talk to the elders and the war chief and try to set up a meeting… If I'm not back in a few days, for your own people's sake, Lexa, I suggest you pack your things and try to go as far from here as possible. The south would be best at first, then east until you reach the sea."
Lexa nodded in satisfaction, reaching out to clasp his arm automatically in farewell. He reached out as well, gripping her arm in return, and if he was surprised by her using a gesture that was common among his own people, then he did not show it. Of course, he had no way of knowing that the Sky People did not shake hands this way.
"Thank you, Lincoln," she said, tightening her grip on his arm.
The Trikru man nodded once, holding her gaze steadily, then they both released their clasped arms. He turned from her and disappeared into the forest, and all her hopes for future peace went along with him, a shared dream that now lived within both of their hearts.
She jogged back to the camp, a tentative sense of hope now filling her despite the precarious circumstance. Perhaps, just perhaps, things would be different this time… Better.
The Commander slipped through the gate of the dropship camp, rejoining her people. The young Arkers quickly surrounded her, their faces turned to her with trusting gazes, a sense of relief rushing through the camp at having their fearsome leader back amongst them once more. One person among them did not look relieved however. From his place in the shadows of a nearby tent, John Murphy scowled in annoyance and disgust, then turned and slipped away. Lexa's knowing green eyes followed him from across the camp, their gaze as clear and focused as that of a stalking forest cat.
Murphy shivered, feeling her eyes upon him, and he was not able to help the slow, cold fear that trickled down his spine.
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Light, cheerful birdsong whistled on the slight breeze, the rising wind a pleasant relief from the unusually warm spring day. The Azgeda warriors had stripped out of their heavy gray furs, and many now stood in the shallow stream nearby, cooling their heated faces with the ice cold water and drinking their fill. They were not accustom to this much heat so early in the year, and the weather had gotten steadily warmer once they crossed over the last mountain pass and left the lands of the Ice Nation behind them. Clarke wiped sweat from her own brow, staring off into the distance as she listened to the cheerful chatter of the Skaibona warriors as they settled in to make camp.
"You do know it's not going to just… reappear if you keep staring, Clarke, right?" Octavia's low voice mocked, distracting her from her thoughts, a note of playful amusement in the other girl's words.
She pulled her gaze away from the sky, looking back at her with a small, embarrassed smile.
"What do you think it was, exactly?" she asked, her mind still consumed with thoughts about the strange object they had seen falling from the sky several hours earlier.
Ever since they had left the Ice Nation stronghold and she had seen a similar object fall in the far distance that first day, Clarke had unconsciously kept a part of her always looking upwards towards the blue horizon. This time, when she saw another streak of flame and smoke splitting the skies above, this time much closer and easier to see, she'd immediately called out to the others, wanting to make sure that they also saw it and she wasn't in fact hallucinating. In all those months spent alone in the Ice Queen's dungeons, it wouldn't be the first time Clarke had experience strange visions and hallucinations while awake.
"Who knows?" Octavia shrugged, not seeming overly interested or concerned, "It fell near the Mountain… Those lands are cursed for a reason, Clarke. People say strange things have always happened there."
"That wasn't from the Mountain," she argued, shaking her head. Whatever it was that had fallen, she doubted very much that the mysterious Mountain Men had anything to do with it.
"Well, we could always sneak away and go check it out," the other girl suggested, a note of mischievousness in her voice.
Clarke eyed her warily, not entirely sure that she was joking. Octavia, she was realizing, had an almost desperate thirst for adventure. She seemed ready and willing to hurl herself into any dangerous circumstance, and it was a wonder that she hadn't yet done something truly reckless on this trip. So far, the girl had contented herself with rebelling in small ways, first by flirting with some of the younger and more handsome of the men among the warriors, then by flaunting her dalliance with one of them in plain sight of her brother. Bellamy, as heavy-handed as he always tended to be with her, had ordered her to stay away from the men on the second day of the trip. Octavia had immediately balked at his desire to control her, and she had since taken every opportunity to prove her independence and freedom from him, often to the annoyance and aggravation of everyone else around her.
Clarke thought it was all ridiculous. Bellamy needed to leave his sister alone and let her live her own life, but she knew that wasn't something he was capable of doing. His overwhelming desire to do anything required to protect her was the only reason they were on this dangerous mission in the first place.
As badly as she wanted to know what it was that had come down from the sky, Clarke knew it was too risky to go searching for it. She shook her head.
"We're already too close to the Mountain as it is, Octavia… Getting any closer would be foolish."
"What's the matter, traitor, are you children afraid of Reapers and scary Mountain Men? Did your mother tell you too many frightening stories when she tucked you in at night? Or was it your dead father that made you so weak?"
The harsh, cold voice sneered at them from somewhere close behind, and they both turned, Clarke's jaw clenching at the other woman's intentionally provocative words.
"Echo, such a pleasure to see you, as always," she said by way of greeting, frowning at the woman with distaste. Echo was the only person among them who was not of Sky Born descent, and it was generally understood that she had been sent along as Queen Nia's eyes and ears. She was a fierce warrior and very intelligent, but her blind loyalty to the Ice Queen and single-minded hatred of anyone who wasn't Azgeda made her twice dangerous in Clarke's eyes. Whatever Nia's plans for the Skaibona were, Clarke suspected that Echo knew something of them, and perhaps even had a significant role to play.
Octavia had bristled beside her at the other woman's insults, her brown eyes flashing with anger.
"Well, if it isn't the Ice Queen's little pet snake… Why don't you slither back into whatever cold, slimy hole you came out of… Oh wait, your mother is dead too, isn't she? How sad."
Clarke barely held back an incredulous laugh at Octavia's snarled insults, looking sideways at her with wide-eyed surprise, her lips pressed into a tight line to keep in the laughter. She wanted to feel embarrassed by the girl's words, but it was hard to when Echo had deserved them so badly. She'd had the gall to call them both cowards, and had brought up her dead father in a very unflattering way. Octavia had only responded in kind, but it probably hadn't been wise. The cruel woman's own face had first reddened, then darkened in anger at the younger girl's words, and she took an aggressive step towards them.
"Echo," Bellamy's voice growled from nearby, dangerous and low, "I told you to stay away from my sister."
The woman tossed an angry glance in the prince's direction, her wild brown hair blowing in the sudden breeze.
"Of course, ai Hainofa," she answered, dipping her head in a small, sarcastic bow, "Whatever you say, of course…"
The slender, dangerous woman turned as though to walk away, but then suddenly twisted back to them, a more serious, hard expression on her face.
"But if I may ask, Bellamy… Why are we camping here? It's been almost a full day since we left Azgeda… We should be going even further into Trigeda lands, not hiding here on the outskirts. Trikru may be weak and pathetic warriors, but they still know enough to respect strength. How can you expect them to respect us, to be willing to talk, if we act like cowards?"
"I've already told you, Echo, we're waiting here for Trikru to notice us. Once their scouts have spotted our camp, we will send in unarmed emissaries and invite them to meet our delegation. The Queen sent us to make peace… We can't do that if we look like invaders."
Clarke nodded at his words, encouraged that he still seemed to be taking her earlier advice to heart. During their long journey south, she had forced herself to set aside her lingering anger and resentment towards him, and had made an effort to get him to talk about his plans for the mission. Initially, his idea had been to do much as Echo had stated… To rush into Trikru lands and force a confrontation, then demand to see their war chief and elders. It had taken some work, but she had finally convinced him that this was not the way to start peaceful negotiations.
Bellamy, Echo, and the other Skaibona men and women here were warriors first. Violence was all they knew, and it was not in their nature or within their experience to act any differently. Clarke was trained as a healer, however, a practice which required one to think carefully and critically about a great many factors in order to determine the proper course of treatment, and that was exactly how she approached this situation now. If this peace mission was ever going to work, and if they were all to survive in the meantime, things would have to be done very carefully. She refused to let her people be killed because of Bellamy's poor decisions, or due to the twisted machinations of the Ice Queen.
"That plan is foolish, and makes us look weak," Echo asserted again, implying by her words that Bellamy was also weak for believing it would work, "We should be using the Mountain as cover to move further into their lands, to move close enough that they must fear what we can do… They will never agree to negotiate with us if they don't first think we are capable of striking a blow directly into their hearts."
The prince's face fell slightly at her words, his deep rooted uncertainty making an appearance in his expression, his confident posture sagging somewhat as he began to doubt himself openly. Clarke took a step closer to them both, concerned now that Echo might convince him to listen to her. Bellamy was an excellent warrior and very brave, there was no denying. Despite his flaws and past mistakes, she didn't believe him to be a bad person at heart, but she also knew that he was far too malleable, too likely to bend in whatever direction the wind blew most strongly. Unfortunately, Echo seemed to recognize this in him just as well as she herself did.
Around them, the Skaibona warriors were gathering closer, their curious ears eagerly listening to their leaders discuss what to do next. Bellamy may be the son of the previous King of the Ice Nation, and a pure descendent of the sacred Sky Born, but the young man had never led warriors in battle, and everyone knew the Queen would never allow him to be her heir. This mission was his first true test of leadership, and all eyes watched to see what he would do, and whether he was worthy of being followed.
"This mission is about making peace… If we can't make peace without making war, then what's the point?" Bellamy said finally, echoing something Clarke had said to him days before. "We're sticking with this plan, Echo, I've already decided."
His words were confident, but she could still tell that he was doubting himself a little, and so could Echo and the other warriors.
"This isn't the plan that you and the Queen discussed…," Echo replied, but the words had been a mistake, as Bellamy instantly made her realize by interrupting her angrily.
"The Queen is not here, I am!"
Uh oh, Echo… You shouldn't have mentioned the Queen, Clarke thought gleefully, a small smile twisting her lips.
"Was this her idea?" Echo said quickly, seeing the smile and gesturing towards Clarke as she sought a way to shift the topic away from the Queen. She had made a serious misstep, and now Bellamy's distaste for doing what the Queen wished was at the forefront of his mind.
"Clarke is barely old enough to carry those scars she wears, and she's not a warrior… She doesn't know what is needed to be done."
"I earned my scars saving the life of one of your warriors, Echo," Clarke spoke up, not needing anyone else to defend her. "You'd best hope that I still remember all the lessons I needed to learn in order to earn myscars when you are injured and in need of healing."
The two women glared at each other, neither one backing down. Traditions were different among all the known twelve clans, but an Azgeda child came of age when they reached seventeen, and it was then that they were given the tribal scars that marked them as a full adult. However, scars could be earned at a much younger age if the child did something significant that proved they were ready to bear the full responsibility of adulthood. Often, a young warrior in training might earn theirs early by killing someone in battle. For Clarke, she had earned hers at sixteen when she stepped in to heal a wounded man brought back to the stronghold. Her mother had been gone visiting outlying Sky Born villages, and no one had expected the warrior to survive his terrible injuries. However, with great difficulty and many days of intense work, she had succeeded in saving his life, and her mother and the other Skaibona elders had decided she was ready for her scars.
"Enough," Bellamy said after a few moments, his voice ringing out loudly, not just speaking to the two women who were angrily facing off. Clearly he was aware of all the curious eyes upon him, and he had to know that backing down now would only make him look weaker than Echo suggested. Besides, these were Skaibona warriors, and they had no special affection or loyalty towards Echo. If anything, some of their faces were dark with anger on Clarke's behalf, many of them knowing people who had been healed by the talents of Abby, and many others who respected her mother as a leader among the Sky Born.
Echo, she realized, didn't seem to recognize how precarious her situation was among them… Doubtless because the arrogant Azgeda woman was not used to being the minority. Normally it was the Sky Born who were greatly outnumbered by the other tribes of the Ice Nation, but not in this delegation. At last, Echo glanced around herself and notice just how hostile the growing crowd was becoming, and she immediately backed away from Clarke, then turned on her heel and strode away without another word. As soon as she did, the others slowly broke off and returned to what they had been doing before, the tense air clearing as though it had never been.
"What a bitch," Octavia said, and her words succeeded in breaking the tension completely, both Clarke and Bellamy laughing out loud.
"Would you two try not to start any more fights for at least a day or two?" Bellamy complained, but he smiled at his sister in good humor. Despite herself, Clarke was proud of him for standing his ground with Echo. She had not forgiven him for his betrayal of her, but there was too much at stake for her to hold on to her anger and bitterness for long. Her people's survival, and making this peace with Trikru work, were far more important. Whether she liked it or not, she would need Bellamy to feel like she was on his side, so rather than give him a cold shoulder and walk away, Clarke smiled at him instead. It was her first time doing so since she had been released from prison, and his eyes lit up at seeing the expression directed towards him.
"You're doing the right thing, Bellamy… This plan will work."
"I hope so," he said, seeming encouraged by both her words and smile. They spoke about trivial camp matters for several minutes before he finally left to complete whatever task he had been working on prior to the confrontation with Echo, and the moment he was gone, Octavia turned on her, her gaze accusatory.
"I thought you said you hadn't forgiven him?" she asked, a bit of hostility in her tone.
Clarke's pleasant expression fell, a slight scowl quickly replacing the smile that had been on her lips.
"I haven't," she said.
"Then why are you being nice to him?" Octavia asked, and this time Clarke heard the protective edge in her voice. She might frequently clash with her older brother on petty matters, but she also did love him fiercely. To say that the relationship between the two siblings was complicated was a massive understatement at best. Despite her own frustrations with him, Octavia was no doubt becoming suspicious of Clarke's motives, and she was well aware of how easily her brother could be manipulated by the pretty blond girl.
"Because he is doing the right thing, and the plan will work."
Octavia shook her head, dark eyes mistrustful on hers.
"Whatever you say, Clarke."
She turned to leave, but Clarke stopped her, wanting to ask a question that had been turning over in the back of her mind ever since Echo mentioned her scars.
"What?"
"Didn't you turn seventeen while I was in prison?" she asked carefully, curious despite herself. Octavia scowled and nodded, her expression darkening so much that it looked like a boiling thundercloud.
"Why don't you have your scars yet? Did Bellamy…?" she trailed off, not sure what she meant to imply. Had Bellamy not allowed her to get her scars? Octavia's face was as clean and unscarred as it had been before Clarke's imprisonment, something she hadn't really thought about up until now, having completely forgotten that the girl had turned seventeen a month or so earlier.
"Bellamy has nothing to do with it," Octavia snarled, and Clarke was a bit taken aback by her ferocious tone. Obviously her question had struck a nerve.
"Why would I allow Azgeda to mark me?... To own me?" she asked, taking a fierce step closer, her thumb jabbing into her own chest, "Nobody owns me, Clarke… I belong to myself, not the Queen, not even Bellamy, and definitely not the Ice Nation."
A long silence hung between them at her pronouncements, and Clarke regarded her carefully, feeling as though she was truly seeing Octavia for the first time.
"You don't intend to ever go back, do you?" she asked quietly.
Octavia didn't answer. Instead, she closed her eyes for a brief moment… then turned on her heel and slowly walked away.
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Author's Note:
Ohhh Clarke, you manipulative little shit… Oh how I have missed you! And Octavia, so fierce and brave and damaged. I can't wait to get her and Lincoln together (wait, was I not supposed to give that away?). She needs him in her life so badly, and it breaks my heart that the show killed him off as well… Luckily for us, Lexa and Lincoln both get a second shot at life here in this story. Yay! But Bellamy, you big dumb idiot, don't screw things up. As you may be able to sense, I am pretty critical of his character, but hopefully I'm not writing him in a way that is OOC. I don't hate him (or at least, I didn't in season one and two), but his character has always… frustrated me irrationally. Oh well.
Raven survived, of course! I don't think things on the ground are going to be quite what she is expecting, poor girl. A few new Arkers got introduced in this chapter, and on that note, let me mention quick that I noticed an error in the previous chapter. I erroneously described Jones' hair as short and blonde. That was a typo, and it's been fixed (his hair is black, by the way).
As always, thanks for reading and commenting! I hope you are still enjoying the story as much as I am enjoying writing it. ;)
-FlyUpInSky