A New Earth Chapter 4 Avoiding Others
Clarke spent the next few days helping Abby and Jackson in the med bay. She tried to keep her mind busy while Raven and Shaw tried to make sense of the Eligius 3 files. She wanted to be front and center on their progress, but Bellamy was with them the majority of the time and it was awkward for her. It had gotten so bad that she felt as if she were hiding out. Still she enjoyed spending time with her mom. It was like old times on the ark.
She insisted Madi help out in medical as well and every morning it was an argument with her. When they lived alone in the valley, Clarke shared her love of healing and herbal therapies with Madi and she was eager to learn, but now Madi's interests have shifted. She wants to train. Clarke knows it's the chip driving those desires, and she resents it.
The only people that Madi can train with now are Indra and Echo, and Indra's too focused on Gaia right now. Clarke isn't comfortable with Echo training Madi. Finding excuses are getting harder each day and Madi is getting as frustrated with Clarke as Clarke is with her.
This morning was particularly hard and Madi was using the same argument. "I need to be ready when my people wake," Madi whined
"Madi, things will be different now. We've already talked about this." Clarke said firmly like always.
"Yea you say it's different, but when everyone wakes up, they are still going to expect me to lead them," she said.
"Madi, I'm talking about the fighting." Clarke said. "We can't stay at war. Not anymore," she said "You have to learn to lead through peace," she said. "When we wake Gaia, and she's well enough, she can train you,' Clarke said.
Madi knew the argument well enough. It was the same every day. "I just don't see why I can't train anyway." Madi fussed. "It's boring in the med bay," she said. 'It's like we don't even get to see any of the others," she complained.
"You see them at meals," Clarke said.
"It's not the same thing," Madi said as they made their way to medical.
"Morning," Abby greeted them as they walked in.
"Morning," Madi said in a sulking tone.
Abby looked from Madi to Clarke and saw the look on her daughters face. She knew Madi was bored. "I'll tell you what," she said to Madi, "Jacksons going on rounds. He's starting with section C, and I know he could use your help." Abby glanced up at Clarke for her approval and then to Jackson.
"Yea I could definitely use the help," Jackson smiled
"Section C?" Madi asked "Yea," she jumped at the chance and turned to look at Clarke. "Section C's mostly Wonkru," she said.
Clarke gave a half smile, "Yea, go ahead," she said.
"Thanks Clarke," Madi pipped up and rushed to Jackson.
"Here," Jackson said handing her a tablet. "You can input the readings when I call them out," he said as they both left the room together.
Clarke watched as they left. "Thanks," she said to her mom. "It's getting harder and harder to keep her busy," she said
"Well she is the commander," Abby said
"I know, but all she seems to want to do is train." Clarke said. "I don't want her to focus constantly on the fighting,"
Abby smiled.
"What?" Clarke asked
"I just …"Abby stumbled over her words.
"What is it?" Clarke pushed
Abby smile and looked at Clarke. "I just think about…here you are…A mom and I thought I'd never get to see that. Madi's a lot like you were at that age."
"Hard headed and stubborn?" Clarke asked
"More like driven and tenacious," Abby smiled.
"I'm glad you found her and you weren't alone all that time," Abby said softly
"We found each other. She's the reason I didn't go crazy," Clarke said.
Abby stepped to Clarke and wrapped her arms around her. "I love you Clarke," she whispered.
Clarke felt warmth in her mom's arms for the first time in years. Abby had aged and looked tired to her. Clarke felt like her mom seemed frail and a sadness suddenly washed over her.
She eased back and looked at her mom, "How are you doing?"i
i She asked with concern. "Is everything alright?"
Abby smiled at Clarke, "I'm fine, I'm just tired," she said "and I'm worried about Marcus."
"He's alive, but once we wake him, it's going to be rough. His injuries…We're just not even close to ready…not yet," she said "Not to mention Charmian…and a 200 year old pregnancy," she added.
Madi walked with Jackson as they stepped into section C. The Pods were fogged over and a low hum was a constant sound that seemed to vibrate through the long cryo bay. A dim reddish light bounced off the glass pods and gave everything a pinkish hue.
The first five pods were empty as she walked past what was once her 125 year old bed. Her name was still on the screen, but all the vitals were off. She walked past Bellamy, Clarke, Raven and Echo's empty pods, stopping at the first one that was occupied.
She looked down thru the frosted glass at Octavia. She didn't look real.
"Madi," Jackson said, interrupting her thoughts.
"You ready?" he asked
"Yea," she said.
He gave the readings and she input the numbers.
They worked steady, without skipping a beat. Nearly 100 pods in section C took them most of the day.
They were at the far end, nearly done when the swishing sound of the door opening caught their attention.
Bellamy stepped in, walked over and stopped at Octavia's pod.
Madi watched as he seemed to have a one sided conversation with Octavia while she slept.
He didn't see them, they were on the opposite side of the section, fog and red glowing lights obscured them enough, but Madi clearly saw him and she wanted to say something, but for some reason even to a 12 year old, it felt like an intrusion. She and everyone knew about the strain their relationship had. The two almost frozen, giving Bellamy a few moments to himself until he finally left.
"Do you think they'll ever forgive each other?" Madi asked Jackson as she stared towards the far end of the cryo chamber.
"I have no idea," Jackson said.
They made their way towards the end Bellamy had just been. Jackson stopped at Octavia's pod,
"I need to recheck these readings," he said as he looked everything over. He reread the vitals and all the readings making sure they were the same.
"You seriously don't think Bellamy would do anything to her chamber?" Madi asked Jackson. Shocked that he would think it.
"He already poisoned her once," Jackson said. "I don't trust him not to try it again,"
"Bellamy wouldn't do that," Madi said appalled that Jackson would even suggest it.
They left the chamber in silence.