Linx007 ( ): A.L.I.E is quite literally in flux, I teased it earlier when she was plotting. It involves a color change of her appearance, which is a reference to a very famous AI in an equally famous sci-fi series. That should lead you to the answer, I would imagine :D
AO3 Responses
VileniaVeladorn: I feel like Echo is totally underused, she could have been an amazing plot point, same as Ontari, who I feel like they made a villain for the sake of it.
Betagamma: Well, I'm glad to hear that! I love it when fans tell me that my work brightens their day, is kinda why I do this. Well, that and indulging my irritation with canon and my perversions.
Sorry this chapter took so long, was originally going to make it much, much longer and totally finish the Fall of the Mountain Arc, but when I hit 9k words I decided to split it, so next chapter will end the Arc. Make sure to review!
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Nothing Is True (Save For The Blood We've Shed)
Chapter 15
Behold, I Am Become Death
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Lexa, Heda of The Coalition of Tribes and prime lover of the future Empress of Mankind, looked over her city with a potent mixture of pride and fearful anticipation. The entire metropolis was a hive of activity as any and all warriors on leave or stationed within the city prepared to march. Word had been spread at her command that Clarke had claimed mighty relics of the First Ones and that the Mountain would be destroyed once and for all upon her return from Baltim. There had been much rejoicing at that announcement, for no one had expected it all to happen so quickly. Even those close to Clarke had thought that it would be nearly a year and a half before she would make a move, but the people aboard The Ark had apparently made some very unexpected decisions regarding the future. As a result, they had only six months to destroy their ancient enemy and secure the future with Clarke ruling and guiding mankind.
"Lexa." Octavia's voice came from behind her, and she turned around to see the hot-headed girl looking uncharacteristically uncomfortable and nervous. She hadn't seen the other girl since their conversation in the palace baths, as both Sky Girls had kept to their rooms at all times, no doubt trying to come to grips with their new reality, and the tribeswomen had been content to let them do so in peace. "Can I…can we…that is to say…"
"Sit, Octavia, and tell me what it is that is troubling you so." Lexa offered when it became clear that she was struggling immensely to continue, and Octavia sat with a nod of thanks and a heavy sight. Regarding her with steady curiosity, Lexa waited a few moments for her to announce the source and subject of her apparent woes, but when none were forthcoming, she took her own proverbial stab at it. "Is this about Clarke's new attitude and behaviors? Because we have explained it to you as best we can. Anything further you would really need to ask Clarke about personally once she returns."
"Huh? Oh, no, no, no! Nothing like that!" Octavia blushed and waved her hands a little wildly, as if to banish the subject from the room. Settling down, she visibly steeled herself and met Lexa's eyes, voice firms as she made her plea. "I need to learn how to fight. I need to help Clarke, and if I am going to do that I have to be stronger than I am right now. I won't allow anyone to force me under their control ever again, and I need to be able to protect myself."
"You do know that it takes months to become skilled enough to survive true combat, and longer still to reach an elite level?" Lexa responded slowly, raising an eyebrow at the teen, who actually smirked at her in response.
"Me, Raven, and Clarke's other friends have spent hours every day training since the moment she left. Strength, endurance, flexibility, hand to hand combat, the works. Raven prefers technology and has forgotten more about machines then I'll ever learn, but I was always the best with the physical stuff. None of us are pushovers, Lexa." She declared proudly, chin jutting forward a bit as she sat tall. "We all wanted to be able to help Clarke and the others survive when we got down here."
"Admirable, and having a solid base to work with will hasten your training pace significantly." Lexa mused, already considering whom to place her under for training. Anya wouldn't be a bad choice; not only had she taught Lexa almost everything the now-Heda knew, but something told her that it wasn't the perfect matchup she desired. On the other hand, a certain Clan Leader might be able to connect with her on a more personal level. Both of them had been forced to live with a proverbial sword hanging over their heads, one that would end their lives on the whim of another. Besides which, Indra was a firm handed and fair instructor, one who may well gripe about having to ride herd on a passionate and young woman, but would do her utmost to make Octavia into the very pinnacle of a warrior and an officer. Besides, it would do her some good to have a second again.
"Alright, Octavia, tell Indra that I recommend you to her as her new Seken. Make sure to tell her you're complete training regimen so that she knows where to begin her work with you. We don't have the time to waste rehashing things you already know." She said finally, and Octavia beamed, thanked her, and rushed away to find the dark-skinned former gladiatrix. Lexa hoped that Indra would be successful, but not in teaching Octavia combat (that was a foregone conclusion). No, she wanted her adoptive mother to help Octavia understand this world in a way that she was uniquely suited. Octavia, being the brash young woman that she was, would doubtlessly blurt out questions about Indra's past. Inevitably, it would be revealed that Indra preferred to be submissive in bed. An incredulous Octavia would wonder, at volume, how that was possible for a former slave. With any luck, the older w0man's explanation would convince Octavia to give herself to Clarke without reservation
Quite pleased with herself for her most recent maneuver on their growing family's behalf, she departed from her office in an effort to find Anya and check in on the preparations to return to the front. As she drew closer, she heard Anya talking to Raven of all people, and she slowed with a frown, curious about what the mechanic would want to discuss with Anya, who was arguably her exact opposite.
"…is not nearly as simple as that, Anya. It might be perfectly normal for your people to have polygamous relationships, but I've been raised…" Raven was saying when Anya cut her off, tone firm but voice gentle.
"Raven, you were raised to marry whomever you were told to unless you could find a 'suitable' match yourself. You were raised on the beliefs of the Old World, or at least the ones that your leaders decided were worthy of keeping around. The Old World was destroyed by people who created and enforced those ideals. Do you really want to keep doing things there way? Embrace your feelings for Clarke and figure out everything else as it happens."
"You know, if we're going to talk about feelings, why haven't you said anything to Lexa and Clarke. I think the only people who don't know you want in on their pants is the pair themselves! And you don't have the 'raised with old-fashioned morality' excuse to use like I do!" Raven retorted, and Lexa widened her eyes with a soft gasp. Anya was interested in her, in Clarke? For how long, and how in the name of The Maker had she not noticed? She slinked closer, ears straining to ensure she missed not a single word.
"That's different. I trained Lexa, helped her grow up into the young woman she is today. Been proudly proclaimed to all the world as her sister, her Right Hand. Hardly the actions of someone who would consider bedding me." Anya sounded so uncharacteristically forlorn and empty that Lexa very nearly rushed into the room and embrace and comfort her. She resisted the urge, however, because she knew that Anya's following embarrassment and shame would make her…volatile. Instead, she decided to address this matter separately and with some subtlety. She could think of few people she could more joyfully accept into the fold than Anya, even if they would have to has out their relationship in a very serious and honest conversation. "Now, I have an army to kick into movement. You're coming with us, I hope?"
"Of course. I might not be as much of a fighter, but it would be a good idea to have someone around to make sure that these insiders of Clarke's don't try anything funny with their tech." Raven scoffed at the very notion of staying behind for this most glorious moment in human history.
Lexa hastened away before she could be discovered, mind racing as she worked to decide how best to approach and 'chat' with Anya. Perhaps she could ride with her on the way back to TonDC and the front lines? Nine hours was a long ride for the other woman to try and avoid the subject, not that Lexa planned on giving her the chance to try it.
A deep horn blast drew her attention to the balcony, and she rushed out to gaze towards the docks, where the Waverunner was furling its sails. Returning to the hallway, she shouted loud enough for all the building to hear her words.
"The Queen has returned! Complete your preparations and prepare to march! Ready the horses!"
"Heda, Princess Sylvanas of the Ice Nation and the warrior Echo have just arrived and wish to speak with you!" a voice called back, and she frowned. What were they doing here, and what could they possibly want? Intent on discovering the answers she desired, she quickly made her way out onto the porch where Sylvanas and Echo were swinging off of a pair of very exhausted horses, which were swiftly descended upon by a group of hostlers and led away to the stables.
"Hail, Heda Lexa kom Trikru. It seems we've arrived at a tumultuous moment, for which we apologize. Is the Sky Princess here? It is imperative that I speak with her immediately." Sylvanas greeted her, looking around as she strode up the steps towards Lexa, who was raising her eyebrows at the girl in curiosity.
"She just returned from Baltim, she should be…" Lexa's sentence ground to a halt as Clarke strode into view, a golden spear in her right hand. Everyone before her parted like water, bowing in respect as she swept past them, Luna and Ontari flanking her with stern expressions and matched strides.
"Are the preparations complete, Lexa?" she asked as she came to a halt before them, allowing them to see that not only did she now possess the golden spear, but also a new sword and dagger. Sword and spear both radiated light and warmth, while the dagger seemed to seep cold and darkness. Everyone present fell to one knee in reverence, and she was able to resist only because of the need to maintain her image in public.
"They are, we march south at your command." The Commander bowed deeply before smiling lightly in anticipations. Returning the smile, Clarke ordered her to begin moving the army outside the city. The group scrambled to obey, leaving Echo and Sylvanas still kneeling at her feet.
"Skaiprisa, future ruler of our people, I offer the fealty of myself and my people to you. To seal this oath, I give to you my body, my soul, and in time my heart. They are yours to do with as you desire from this moment forward." The Ice Nation princess dared not raise her eyes to Clarke's face, and Echo spoke from beside her.
"My Queen, I told her of my true loyalty to you and to Heda Lexa within a mile of her mother's palace. It would have taken only a handful of words and I would be creaming even now under Nia's torturers, and I would continue to do so for a long time yet." The future member of the harem said respectfully, and Clarke hummed in interest. Emboldened, Echo pressed on. "She and I are in absolute agreement: Nia's rule cannot continue if peace is our goal, and the best way to serve our people is at your side in battle and at your feet otherwise.
"You both offer yourselves to me? No caveats, no prerequisites, nothing? A deal far too good to be true, regardless of prophecies. What are the two of you not telling me?" Clarke's voice was not yet angry, merely curious, but neither of them much felt like testing their luck by avoiding the question or lying in response to it.
"My Queen, it was my hope that you would take be as your own, and when you had slaked your lust with my virginity, beg for you to show my people mercy when you cast down my mother." The nervousness that Sylvanas was feeling was obvious, and she clearly expected to be punished or at the very least chastised for her plotted manipulation.
"What makes you think that such an action would even be needed? I should like to think that I have proven myself a very merciful individual since my arrival." Clarke said mildly, and both girls nodded in agreement, though Sylvanas spoke once more.
"Mercy on a personal basis, like my father and Ontari, is altogether different from mercy during a conquest. Even if you would not personally commit any atrocities, invading armies do as they wish with their victims. Such is the way of war." She gave a philosophical shrug, and Clarke pursed her lips with a dark scowl as the silver-haired princess' meaning became clear.
Rape, looting, and the slaughter of innocent civlilians were sadly very common occurrences at every point of conflict in human history, and the fact that it happened in what amounted to a Dark Ages-era society was utterly unsurprising. It was also intolerable and unacceptable.
"Sylvanas, Echo, your oaths are accepted. You have my word that I shall permit no war-crimes to be perpetrated upon your people by my armies, and any such actions performed that I discover will see the doer of the deed severely punished." She told them in a voice of iron, and they believed her, for how could they not? She had always been kind, honest, and merciful to everyone she encountered. "You've been riding nonstop to come here so swiftly, you must be exhausted. Remain here and recover."
"With respect, My Queen, a few more hours in the saddle to help bring down the Mountain and save our people will be nothing if not an utter joy. We cannot remain behind and miss such a moment in history as this." Echo rebuffed respectfully, Sylvanas nodding firmly in agreement beside her, and Clarke smiled before turning away.
"You had best refresh your supplies and retrieve fresh mounts, then. We depart for TonDC within the hour. You will ride with myself and the other leaders at the head of the soldiers." She told them, striding away as they rose to obey her commands.
An hour later, they sat astride fresh mounts with the other high-ranking warriors and personal friends of the Sky Princess, who looked every inch the warrior queen astride her massive six-legged steed, facing the three hundred strong force.
"Within the day, we will be reunited with our comrades on the front line, and the Mountain will find its days numbered! Forward!" she spun Sleipnir about and set off at a walk, her advisors around her, the massive line of infantry grinding into motion behind her. It didn't take long for the singing to begin, and squad by squad it spread until the entire was roaring the words to what arguably was one of the most famous marching songs in American history: The Battle Hymn of the Republic.
Everyone raised on the Ark knew it from their studies into the American Civil War. It was almost a cliché, played at least once in the vast majority of audio books and movies about the Union Army, just as Dixie was forever playing for the Confederacy. Still, she could suddenly understand why music and song had been thought to connect one directly to God, to bring forth wells of strength and determination unmatchable by any speech or promise of reward. The air itself reverberated as hundreds of voices roared the words together, and she thought in that moment that she conquer the galaxy. The power of the song filled her veins, thrumming with fire, and she raised her own voice to join the ancient hymn.
"That song is an ancient one, given to us along with many others by your noble ancestor. "Music is the closest we can come to God before we stand at the Gates of Heaven', she is quoted as saying, as well as the fact that 'music is the physical, visceral representation of the human soul'." Sylvanas commented quietly once it ended, as the mounted group around them shifted. Anya and Lexa moved several horse-lengths ahead, deep in conversation about something of significant importance, if she were to guess.
"Your ancestor is standard learning for all children of every tribe, ever since the day she passed into The Maker's arms. Every scrap of knowledge we possess about her is memorized at youth by every citizen." Echo quickly explained when Clarke gave the platinum-haired huntress a curious glance. Clarke gave a soft hum of understanding, turning her attention to Raven.
"It's good to see you're alright Rey, though I'm not really all that surprised. Any idea why O and Indra are riding together, and why O looks ready to die from excitement?" she inquired of her mechanically inclined friend, who actually laughed and shook her head in amusement.
"She asked Lexa to teach her how to fight like The Grounders o, with blades and the like, since all of us Arkers can only do unarmed combat. Lexa decided it would be best to recommend her to Indra. Indra huffed and puffed about children and it being a hassle a bit before agreeing. Octavia is her apprentice now." Was the explanation, and Clarke gave a soft whistle while Echo and Sylvanas gave quiet gasps of awe.
"To train under a Clan Leader personally is an immense honor, but to train under the famed gladiatrix Indra of the Thousand Cuts! Make, I'm jealous and I was trained by my mother and her bodyguards!" Sylvanas breathed, getting sharp and curious looks from the two Arkers.
"Indra of the Thousand Cuts? I know enough of my Roman history to know that a gladiator or gladiatrix with a special title or epithet is head and shoulders above the rest." Clarke commented, and the two Ice Nation girls nodded rapidly.
"She was famous for wielding two blades at once and using her agility and flexibility to outmaneuver her opponents and cover them with small, shallow cuts. Each cut would slow them down. Bit by bit, they would become exhausted from pain and blood loss, and she would claim victory. She is the only slave fighter to have never slain an opponent in combat." Echo confirmed, shaking her head in awe and respect. "When asked, she said that it wasn't because she was too weak to kill, but that achieving victory without taking a life requires true skill."
"That makes sense. Much harder to do what she did than it is to impale someone and have done with it." Clarke mused, the people in her vicinity voicing their agreement. Another song started, and the group halted their conversation to either listen or join in.
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"People of The Ark, this is Chancellor Jaha. As many of you know, to objects from The Ark made reentry into Earth's atmosphere in the last few months." The Chancellor's voice spilled from every speaker while every screen came to life with the image of his face. "What you do not know is that they were drop pods. The first was populated solely by none other than Clarke Griffin, the best trained and prepared member of the Security Force. She volunteered to act as the preliminary scout to see if Earth is survivable once more. Not long after, Octavia Blake and Raven Reyes volunteered to go down in a second pod with supplies in order to render her assistance in her goal."
The Chancellor paused, giving his people time to absorb what he was saying. All across the Ark, people were reacting in a broad spectrum: tears, fear, apprehension, hope, and for two people in particular…rage.
Bellamy Blake couldn't believe it. He thought his sister had just been avoiding him (Again. It was a common occurrence) for a while, but he had never thought that his baby sister had been sent planetside. Even if she had volunteered, which he would have doubted if he didn't know her as well as he did, the fact that the Council would send fucking teenagers to the ground was insane, horrifying, and somehow not all that shocking in retrospect.
Finn Collin was glaring darkly at the image of the Chancellor, just as furious as Bellamy, though his reasons were far less pure and noble than brotherly love. The old bastard had totally scuppered his plans for getting his hands on Raven and Clarke's bodies. The pair of them (and Octavia, who was another hot piece of ass) were probably long dead by now, which mean he was stuck with the same dregs he had been messing around with already.
"Based on the events that followed, we have reason to believe that the homeworld is habitable once more. As such, we have decided to reconfigure the Ark in order to ensure that we all survive reentry. All citizens with tasks outside of life support and other essentials will act as labor teams for and work under the directive of maintenance personnel. However, given the dangers of reentry in The Ark, it has been decided that 100 or so juvenile delinquents will be sent planetside within six months, to help the three already present teens prepare food and medical supplies for the rest of us. I regret that it has come to this, but there are no other viable options."
Every adult with a child in The Skybox exclaimed in worry and anger. How dare the Council put their children at risk like that! Without an adult to protect them and help them, it was tantamount to an early, undeserved death sentence! What was worse was that there was little that they could do about it besides get violent, something none of them yet had the courage to do.
"The harder you work and the better you perform the required modifications, the faster you will be reunited on the ground. As a reward for their efforts, all Skybox detainees will have their records expunged, regardless of any past crimes."
While the Skybox kids were scared, they were also teenagers being told they would get to go on an incredible adventure, and they wouldn't have to worry about getting floated when the turned eighteen. Altogether, it sounded like a damn fine deal to them. Clarke's friends, freshly arrested and imprisoned for the cultivation and use of marijuana and moonshine, were grinning wildly. They had managed to get themselves arrested just in time, it seemed. A few months more in lockup and they would be on the homeworld with Clarke and their other friends at long last.
"All citizens will be provided their new assignments in the morning. That is all." Jaha's face vanished, leaving the whole of the Ark struggling to find their equilibrium in the face of such titanic upheaval.
None of them had expected to live long enough to stand upon the homeworld themselves, had never even let themselves dream of it. It was always something some ephemeral, far-distant future generation would do. Now that they knew it would be them…they weren't sure how to feel. Terrified, elated, many were even in denial, thinking it was some kind of ploy or trick on the part of the Council, though most of them would accept reality soon enough. There would be more than enough evidence to prove the truth of the matter in due time, and quite frankly the rest of the population had neither the time nor the patience to convince them with mere words.
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"Sir, I would like to go down with the kids. They need some kind of adult supervision planetside, and I can be spared from my duties up here." Shumay said bluntly as he walked into his superior's office, and Kane blinked up at him, briefly lost by the abruptness of both his appearance and his words themselves.
"That's an…interesting request, Shumay. The Council hadn't even begun to consider whome to choose and how to choose them. No offense, but you would probably be fairly far down the list, given your usefulness to The Ark." He responded slowly, eyes and tone curious as he looked at his second in command, who shrugged a little self-consciously with a rueful smile.
"Thanks for the compliment, sir, but I want to try and help those kids out. I was never really the biggest fan of locking them up in the first place, just for doing stupid kid stuff. Besides, I have combat, medic, tech, and earth skills training. I can help them survive and even flourish until everyone else comes down, and I can teach them how to help the others survive as well." His voice wasn't quite pleading, but it did implore the older man to see wisdom in his words, and in all honesty he could. Shumay's logic was sound, as was his apparent fervor and interest in acquiring the task for himself. However, that same interest and fervor was somewhat…unsettling to the head of ArkSec. Shumay had never said a single word about the kids or had displayed any kind of displeasure or disagreement with either their treatment or their lot in life. Something about how passionately Shumay had spoken had rung hollow and false, and Kane was tempted to call him out on it. Instead, he decided to watch and see how things played out. Given enough time, exactly what (if anything) was going on would be brought out into the open with or without his interference.
"Alright, I'll suggest you to the Council. I can't guarantee anything, of course, but I will do my best to convince them of your sincerity." He said finally, getting a declaration of gratitude and a salute before he was alone once more, kept company only by his paperwork and his suspicions.
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TonDC was a hive of activity, soldiers and civilians alike rushing about like a colony of ants, all shouting instructions, confirmations, encouragement, and God only knew what else to each other in an endless cascading cacophony that was somehow comforting to Clarke as she and her party of riders passed through the gates. The infantry trailing behind them broke apart to set up shelters and then find friends and comrades to share news and refreshment with.
"Lexa, have all the Generals attend to me in the main hall in thirty minutes. Raven, Octavia, stick with Anya and Indra. Watch and learn how they interact with people as best you can, learn the lay of the land as it were. Ontari, Echo, Sylvanas, come with me." Clarke ordered as she dismounted Sleipnir and gave him an affectionate rub and a scratch before stablehands led him away. The group split, all but the Ice Nation women departing for various tasks and duties.
Clarke led them into the room she had stayed in when she had first arrived in TonDC, gesturing for them all to sit down. The four tributes immediately arranged themselves around her feet, Sylvanas and Echo took chairs, while Ontari openly waffled, unsure of what to do. In the end, she knelt down at Clarke's feet as well, ignoring the looks she was getting from everyone, her domina included.
"For the sake of ensuring that we are on the same page, Sylvanas and Echo have sworn themselves to me, body and soul. Naturally, I have accepted their oaths. Now, it is important that I tell all of you a few things and offer you all a single chance to withdraw yourselves from my harem." Clarke said, gathering herself to explain that she was…a bit different from other girls, but Sylvanas spoke up before she could continue.
"Is this about your cock, domina?" she inquired with utter bluntness, and Clarke choked on her own tongue, eyes wide and face darkening rapidly in embarrassment. "If it is, I know that Echo and I are already fully aware and have been since before we offered ourselves to you."
"The rest of us are utterly aware, domina. Of your women, only Raven and Octavia have not been told, and only because Costia didn't want to scare them away. She said it would be a terrible waste." Ailyn added, nudging an immensely red Daine with an elbow, getting a squeak from the youngest member of the harem.
"Remind me to punish her later, even if the brat will enjoy it far too much for it to really qualify as a punishment." The blonde dominant grumbled halfheartedly, before sighing and reaching down to absently pet her nearest slave, this time being Daja, who relaxed into her touch smoothly and happily. "Costia and Lexa, as the only ones to share my bed, are the only ones to know that I can significantly influence, even decide entirely, whether I am potent or not. As such, none of my women will get pregnant until I deem that our situation is safe enough for any of you to be vulnerable in such a way."
"Do you intend to take us then, domina, before the fall of The Mountain?" Samara asked eagerly, and Clarke smirked at her and nodded.
"Yes, tonight you four will find yourselves serving my pleasure and doubtless that of Lexa and Costia. I'm afraid that I don't have all the space and tools needed to have a truly, overwhelmingly complete session for you, and I apologize for that." She sounded genuinely disappointed, and all seven women felt a bolt of heat lash through their bodies.
"Domina, to finally be yours, to feel your hands on us, to give our blood to you, and to feel you spill yourself inside us…that is more than enough. Everything else is a joy, a gift to us. We live to serve you." Daja said honestly, before frowning slightly. "Though we did look forward to you indulging yourself, it is an immense pity that you cannot yet do so."
"I may not be able to drag the lot of you to a specially equipped dungeon and toy with you for hours on end, but it doesn't mean that I can't last you to a bed-post and flog you until you're begging me to fuck you cross-eyed." Clarke smirked down at her lazily, tugging on her hair enough that she felt it. Looking at the other three, she continued. "As for you three, I don't know that it would be wise for us to reveal our new relationships just now. Ontari, the choice is yours whether you wish to become my woman tonight, or to wait."
"Domina, while I have no problem sharing your or pleasuring my future sisters, I would beg of you that our first night together not be an orgy." The girl responded almost shyly, and Clarke smiled at her understandingly.
"Of course, Ontari. Anyone who wishes it can have privacy with me whenever they desire it, be it their first night or any other night afterwards. I may be your Mistress, your owner, your ruler, but I shall never treat you as worthless tools. Certainly not like that bastard who fancies himself the Clan Leader of the Rockkru." Clarke's eyes flashed dangerously at the thought of the cruel and brutal man she had met at her feast. "I shall personally ensure he receives his just rewards once The Mountain has been dealt with.
Something told them that said rewards would be of silver and gold.
A knock on the door drew their attention to the portal as it opened, Costia sticking her head in and informing them that the generals had gathered and were awaiting her presence. It was quickly determined that Echo and Sylvanas were 'ensuring the safety of their friends and clanmates who were now in the service of the Sky Princess.'
"Ladies and Gentleman, I appreciate your prompt arrival. Time, and my patience, are both running short when it comes to The Mountain, so let us waste no time. As some of you are already aware, there is a large, arguably majority faction within The Mountain that want the current leadership to be cast down and surrendered to us for judgment. In exchange, they want immunity and integration into the tribes for the rest of their people. We're going to give it to them." Clarke said bluntly, hands folded behind her back, face impassive and stance unyielding as she weathered the immediate and aggressive protests and complaint and condemnations.
"Who are you to tell us that we must work with our ancient enemies, to allow them to live amongst us, eat and drink with us, even wed our sons and daughters?" Quint, General of the Ice Nation, snarled furiously, slamming a fist on the table as the other angrily pointed at her, and she felt those at the table whose loyalty ultimately lay with her stiffen and bristle protectively, but they were wise enough to restrain themselves. Even Raven and Octavia kept silent, and she was glad to see that they were following her instructions to follow Anya and Indra's leads seriously.
"You will do it for the very same reason that I did not condemn Sylvanas or any other members of the Ice Nation for the actions of her father. Only the foolish, the ignorant, or the rabidly insane try to harm those who have done them no harm. Will you try to kill innocents, Quint, for nothing more than where they were born?" Clarke rebuked him coldly, meeting his fierce glare with her own even one, and it was he who backed down from the battle of wills. Satisfied, Clarke returned her attention back to the table at large. "Morality aside, the tactical advantage of having allies to free our warriors inside and destroy their defenses cannot be understated. At the very least, our losses during the battle will be lessened greatly. Something I am sure we can all support and desire."
Quint's face tightened at that last salvo. If he protested overmuch now, it would appear that he didn't care that their people would be taking catastrophic casualties. Of course, the more casualties the non-Ice Nation tribes took the better. Fewer warriors for his people to fight when they began their conquest. However, he couldn't exactly tell them that, not if he wanted to keep his head attached to his shoulders. He rather liked it where it was, funnily enough.
"I presume that you have an awe-inspiring plan for accomplishing the fall of The Mountain? Especially given the restraint we must apparently display." The general of the Plains Clan to the west asked bluntly, and Clarke grinned predatorily with a nod. Eyeing her with something akin to nervousness, the general gestured for her to elaborate.
"The first step will be for me to get in touch with the rebel faction in the Mountain and arrange for them to sabotage the acid fog at the very least, and anything else that they can get their hands on. Either they will open the doors for our forces, or I will. Once that is done, we storm the place. One force, with healers, will immediately head to the prisoner's cages and liberate them. That force will hold position and defend the prisoners until The Mountain is secure."
"Some of the warriors will balk at playing guard instead of fighting in battle at such a legendary moment in history." Luna warned, and Clarke shrugged unconcernedly.
"Maybe so, but the prisoners will be too weak from hunger and being drained of blood to defend themselves properly, and I can virtually guarantee an attempt will be made to use them either as human shields or to turn them into Reapers in order to sow chaos and casualties amongst us." She explained, getting nods of understanding from everyone present. Cowardly though it was, it would be a sound tactical move on The Mountain's part, and thus would have to be countered. "I will arrange for the rebels to be concentrated in one area. Indra, with Octavia as a contact, will take another force to secure them. The rest of you, led by Lexa and guided by Raven, will secure the Control Room and kill or capture anyone loyal to Cage."
"What will you be doing, SkaiPrisa?" Quint inquired, hoping to expose cowardice or duplicity on her part, but she merely bared her teeth savagely.
"I will hunt down and kill Cage personally. His filthy, pestilence-ridden Organization has been doing Humanity harm for millennia. It was they who caused The Final War and nearly destroyed our race. I intend to extract payment from his flesh for their crimes. Besides, if he has a relic weapon like I do, no number of regular warriors would be able to bring him down." She said gleefully, tapping her golden spear on the ground, and was met by immediate protests from her loyalists (sans Echo, Ontari, and Sylvanas, who kept to their roles admirably).
"Clarke, are you sure that is the wisest course? Without you around, our people will be left with Jaha as a leader, and that will lead to armed conflict with The Coalition. There wouldn't be any way to avoid it with him at the helm." Raven's fairly calm voice cut through the hubbub, silencing it.
"The likelihood of Cage actually besting me is…minimal, to say the very least. I have a prodigious advantage in all fields over him. I know what I'm doing, Rey, don't worry about that." Clarke told her reassuringly, and she nodded in acceptance. Pleased, Clarke turned her attention back to the generals. "Good, I leave it to you to decide which troops are best used for each objective. Once my agents acquire maps of the interior, we can use them to create a specific plan of attack. Until then, be about your usual duties."
Recognizing the dismissal for what it was, the group departed, leaving her only with her lovers both present and future, though Octavia elected after some hesitation to leave with Indra.
"Sylvanas, Echo, you two had better go after Quint. Express outrage at my plans if you must, but see if he lets anything slip in his anger." Clarke instructed, and they bowed before departing. Turning her eyes to Luna, Anya, and Raven, she raised her eyebrows in curiosity. "The three of you might not wish to linger in our company overlong. Things are going to be getting rather debauched shortly."
"We know, that's why we're here. Raven and Anya decided to talk each other into coming to you together, and Lexa convinced me to at least talk to you about it." Luna spoke for the trio, while a blushing Raven kept her eyes on the ground while Anya simply scowled, far too proud and jaded to blush as easily as her partner.
"That is…unexpected. Any particular reason you three feel like joining my harem? And since when do you even like girls, Rey?" Clarke asked, immensely surprised but concealing it rather well. It helped that the notion of having the three women serving and servicing her was truly appealing, and not only for their beauty.
"Since all this started, really. I always cared about you, kind of looked up to you really. Eventually admration turned into something else, something more. Given I could die during the attack on Mount Weather, I wanted to tell you how I felt and spend as much time with you as I can." The mechanic said honestly, though still red in the face, and she met Clarke's eyes so that her friend could see the resolution within them. Glancing at Anya a moment later, she took the Trikru general's hand in her own. "Anya and I have become fairly close since O and I Arrived, and we helped each other muster the courage to move forward."
"As for me, I've carried a torch for Lexa ever since she protected me after The Conclave. Between her devotion to you and witnessing your talent for command and strength, it's a small wonder that I find you interesting as well." Luna added her two cents with a faint half-smile. "I might not be in love with you yet, but if Lexa and Anya found something within you, I doubt it will be long before you own my heart as well."
"Well, fortunately, I know of a bunker nearby that is more than large enough for us all to be together at once. Only I can find it and open it, so we will be both protected and in privacy while we're…distracted with one another." Clarke said quite eagerly, her pride as a dominant lover quite strong indeed with the sensual banquet that she would soon have spread out before her.
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It didn't take long for the group to reach the hidden bunker, only half an hour's walk from TonDC. When the door hissed open and the women obediently filed it, it was readily apparent that this had been a very important person's little hideyhole. It was also obvious that they had enjoyed an…alternative lifestyle as well, given that the sleeping area consisted of an enormous, plushly decorated and almost excessively padded platform, a large klinai on a small dais at the far end. Stripping herself, Clare swayed her way up to recline on it, an expectant look in her eyes as she regarded them. Taking the hint, Lexa and Costia stepped up onto the platform, stripping eagerly as they went. The four slaves elected to put on more of a show, standing before their owner and stripping with slow, deliberate sensuality. Even shy and innocent Daine seemed to be enjoying her teasing dance, though she was also blushing furiously.
Raven blushed deeper still and stared at the large, eager cock that hung between her friend's legs. When Anya had told her about this…development, she had thought it was some kind of Grounder joke or insult, and reacted quite angrily. When Anya did nothing but stare at her in response, it dawned on her that the older woman was being entirely serious. To her shame, her dedication had wavered towards disgust in that moment, but she had crushed it ruthlessly. Clarke was still Clarke, regardless of what superficial changes she underwent, she was still the same young woman. The same ironclad morals, the same dedication, the same kindness. Everything that had attracted her to the blonde was still there.
A nudge from Anya had her stripping, though she covered herself with her arms as she scuttled up onto the platform behind Anya, eyes locked on Clarke's shaft, which was now being bathed by the eager tongues of Ailyn, Samara, and Daja, while Daine was busy fondling her breasts as Clarke devoured her virgin cunt.
"Looks like Daine will be the first, Clarke must be getting her ready." Anya commented softly as they watched. "Most dominants with one so young and tender would have taken her already, wet or dry."
"That isn't Clarke. She might be dominant, she might bind and flog and tease, but she would never be pointlessly cruel." Raven responded proudly, receiving a soft hum of agreement from her closest Grounder friend. Moments later, they saw, and heard, the youngest of Clarke's slaves lose her virginity with a whimper. They watched the future leader of humanity ease the girl into womanhood with soft caresses, gentle kisses, and sweet words as the teen grew used to be filled so utterly. After a few moments of deep breathing, the girl began to squirm in Clarke's lap, trying to shift that burning rod and find a new pinnacle of pleasure.
Taking the hint, Clarke began to rise and lower the girl on her shaft, efforts aided quickly as Daine began to move herself, her moans and scent beginning to fill the room. Lexa and Costia tumbled to the ground in a playful tussle, and Raven felt her own arousal start to rise. Judging from the way Anya was shifting and how hard her nipples were, she was the same. Somehow, for some reason she did not yet know, Raven found that knowledge immensely reassuring.
It didn't take long for Daine to cum with a wail, one that grew in pitch and intensity when Clarke bit into her neck and filled her womb with warm, thick seed. The pair cuddled for a moment before Daine staggered off to lie down a few feet away from where Lexa had pinned Costia down and engaged in an eager 69. Looking away from the trio (Daine was now gathering the mixed cum from her it was leaking out and licking her fingers clean before going back for more), the duo were able to see Daja bend over eagerly, Clarke mounting her roughly and sliding home in a single thrust. From the way that Daja was eagerly pushing back into her thrusts and begging her to be rougher, it was rather clear that she reveled in her masochism. Raven couldn't imagine having her first time be anything but slow and tender, personally, but it was extremely arousing to watch nonetheless. She was idly wondering how Octavia's interests would be revealed when the time came.
Her mind went blank when a lustful Anya pulled her into a heated kiss, overcome by sensations that filled both the room and her body. She briefly considered pushing the older woman away, but ended up pulling her closer instead. The freshly minted inter-harem relationship held each other close, simply relishing in the warmth of each other's mouths, and their hands roaming their bodies freely. Raven was shocked when Anya let her take the lead, voluntarily submitting to the younger and inexperienced girl. Utterly unsure of just what the hell she was doing, she settled for what she had done, namely kissing and gentle stroking of the battle-scarred general's body, though she avoided any erogenous zones. Anya noticed instantly.
"Just touch me the way you would want to be touched, Reivon. Let us explore one another and prepare for our Queen together." She encouraged gently, knowing how The Ark regarded same-sex interactions as a grave crime. She doubted there was much privacy for her self-exploration either, but she had no doubt people had found a way. She was proven right when hands softer than her own, but bearing calluses all the same, tentatively touched her dampening folds. The pair descended into mutual pleasure, nipping and sucking and tugging and stroking each other, never quite taking their partner to the peak they both craved, both wanting to come in unison with their Queen instead.
They didn't know how much time passed, so engrossed in one another were they, and as such were caught off-guard when Clarke pressed her warm, sweat and cum slicked body against Raven's back, her hard, hot, soaked shaft sandwiched in the cleft of her ass.
"Enjoying yourself, little bird?" Clarke murmured into her neck, rolling her hips against Raven's ass and stroking her hip. Raven moaned in response, bucking her hips back and shuddering in pleasure as the soft steel shifted against her arousal. "Tell me, do you want to go before or after my Trikru general?"
"What about Luna?" Anya asked huskily, and Clarke chuckled throatily, pointing over to where she had, at some point, trussed up and gagged the Boat Clan's leader and left her to the mercy of Costia and Lexa, both of whom had cum leaking from their pussies as well.
"I decided to save her for last. She's masochistic enough to enjoy being teased and left hanging while I'm with the two of you." She hummed in amusement, before refocusing on her current prey. "What do you want, Raven?"
"I want you to be tender and love me, Clarke, this first time. I want you to protect me and everyone else from The Council, and I want you to stay alive. No heroics, no glorious death, nothing stupid. I can't let myself be yours if I'll have to bury you before we're twenty."
"I'm not God, Raven. I cannot guarantee you that I will die of old age. I can't lie and say I won't die in battle. I can promise to you that I will never treat my life frivolously. I can promise to love you and protect you as long as I live." Clarke answered softly, solemnly, starting to pull away, but Raven flung up an arm, twisting it awkwardly to hold her in place.
"If you promise to try, that's all anyone could ask of you. I want you to make me yours, Clarke. I want to be a part of your family, and I want to help you make it larger, someday."
"No going back once I break your body in, Raven. Queens and Empresses don't like to share. If you want to ever be with anyone outside of my harem, you should tell me now." Clarke warned her one last time, wanting her to be absolutely sure before they took an irreversible step. Her desires on this matter were perfectly clear as she rubbed her shaft along Raven's pussy, adding the mechanic's fluids to the mixture on her cock. The girl's only response was to reach between her legs and grasp Clarke, placing her against the tight hole that had never had anything larger than Raven's own slender fingers within it.
Raven struggled to keep her breath even as the flared head of Clarke's cock pressed against her before popping inside her. Clarke gave her a heartbeat to adjust before pushing deeper, spreading her fold and tunnel wider as more of her girth slid within, until progress was halted by Raven's hymen.
"Anya, why don't you help distract Raven as I break her in? It should make this first part a little more enjoyable for her." Clarke addressed the general, who grinned and nodded, reaching up with her hands to begin teasing Raven's breasts again whilst claiming the dusky skinned girl's mouth. When Raven's body had relaxed enough, Clarke thrust forward until her hips were flush with the mechanic's ass, shredding the thin membrane of flesh. Raven cried out into Anya's mouth, tears of pain in her eyes. Against all biological instinct, Clarke kept still, stroking her newest lover's back soothingly as Anya kissed her tears away.
For Raven, the incredible feeling of fullness was like nothing she could ever have imagined. All the smut she had ever read had made statements that, at the time, had sounded ludicrous. Now with Clarke inside her, it did feel like it was reaching her bellybutton, it did feel hot and like iron, and she had no doubt Clarke's cum would be a surge of liquid fire as it poured into her womb and make her feel deliciously bloated.
The pain was fading now, leaving only a dull ache and that fullness. She tentatively shifted, moving enough to hiss in mingled pleasure and pain as it changed where Clarke was reaching her. She moved further, until only the head was still inside her, and she found herself whimpering sadly as that amazing feeling of being full disappeared. She decided very quickly that she loved having Clarke in her and hated being empty, and she pushed herself back into Clarke quickly to reclaim that feeling. Taking that as a hint, Clarke began to move, taking things slow as she thrust in and out of the girl beneath her.
The two-sided assault by Anya and Clarke was driving Raven insane with such pleasure that she feared she would drown in it. She wasn't going to last much longer, she knew, not with the rising tide she felt surging within herself, and her hips grew more erratic in their efforts to meet Clarke's thrusts.
"Ah, is my little bird going to cum soon?" Clarke purred into Raven's ear, and she moaned a blissful affirmative into Anya's mouth, getting a pleased growl from the blonde woman, who increased her pace in response. Not two minutes later, Raven tore her mouth from Anya's with a howl of pleasure as she tightened down on Clarke's cock. Clarke in turn sank her teeth into the juncture of Raven's neck and shoulder, claiming her in such a way that no one could misunderstand. Semen poured into Raven's spasaming cunt and eager womb, and though neither of them knew it, seeded said womb. Neither of them could predicted it nor yet desired it, but in that moment the eldest child of the Empress of Mankind was conceived. Future investigation would reveal that Raven had a fairly unique twist in her genetic modifications and mutations, one that made her rather more fertile than her harem-sisters.
Anya and Luna's inductions were fairly typical of Grounders, though Raven lay beneath Anya and teased her breasts and kissed her, as their Mistress pounded into the general from behind. Luna was taken much the same way, and the rest of the harem watched in lustful amusement as she writhed and shrieked against her bonds and gag as she was taken like a bitch in heat.
Filling the Clan Leader with her cum, an exhausted and rather drained domina withdrew and fell onto her back, tiredly ordering the room at large to inind Luna. Lexa, the most recovered of her slaves, crawled over to obey. The tired, sore, but content group of women began to congregate around their Mistress, pairing up for sleeping partners. Luna and Anya, Daine and Daja, Ailyn and Samara, while the remaining three settled around Clarke, Raven curled up within the circle of her arms.
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Cage Wallace watched with a sinister smirk as his men labored over another relic of the old world: a pair of mobile rocket launcher trucks, each armed with a half-dozen HITFAEs. High-Impact Thermobaric Fuel Air Explosives. Against the steel mountains of the Lost World, they were devastating. Against the savage's main population center in the ruins of Annapolis…well, for Dark Ages-type construction they would be nothing short of apocalyptic.
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So, longer than usual. Next chapter will be the fall of The Mountain and Octavia losing her virginity. I know I originally said no one would be pregnant, but then I considered the look on Finn's face when he shows up to find a 7 month pregnant Raven as one of Clarke's women. *cackles*
For those who don't know, Fuel Air Explosives are the most powerful time of bomb in existence bar thermo-nuclear explosives. To quote The Walking Dead "it sets the air on fire." I leave it to you to imagine what a dozen of them would do to a city constructed mostly out of simply stone and wood.
