Lexa wasn't sure if she was sick from pain or the sight of human cruelty around her. For all the horrors of the ark, they never treated human beings like this. Somehow seeing this was worse than the vague idea of cannibals in her mind. Shifting slightly, she caught the eye of a woman in the cage to her right. The man to her left was completely out of it. However, this woman looked awake if sickly. "What are they doing to us?"

The woman considered her for a minute. "Don't struggle, they take the ones who fight."

"Take them for what?" She asked, dreading the answer.

Pointing towards an apparatus further into the room, she spoke. "They bleed you and when they can't bleed you any longer they feed you to the ripa."

A shiver of horror went down her spine. "They bleed you?"

"Don't speak gonaslang. They don't know we can understand them. They call us savages." There was hatred in the hiss of her voice.

Lexa curled her fingers around the wire. She needed more information. "How often do they come in here and are they armed?"

The woman scoffed. "What good would that information do you?"

She pushed her loose and unbraided hair behind one ear. Damn, they'd done more than just strip her before throwing her into the cage. "Heda sent me."

"Then she sent you to your death."

Lexa resisted the urge to try and reach through bars and shake the woman. They were all here in a death trap why couldn't the woman just cooperate. Closing her eyes, she centered herself. Control, she needed to stay in control. "Look, what's your name?"

The woman looked at her suspiciously. "Echo."

"Echo then," She swallowed. "I'm Lexa, and in training with Heda's personal guard." She was rewarded by a slight start of surprise in the woman. "If I'm here, then I was successful and Heda knows where the back entrance to this place is. I can get out of this cage, but I need to know everything you can tell me about the mountain."

"You're telling the truth?" Echo said slowly. Several of the others had begun to listen in to their conversation.

She nodded solemnly. "I am." Grimacing, she opened her mouth and reached in and felt for the wire. While she'd been able to feel it in her mouth, it was still reassuring to have it in her hand. It took a couple seconds to get a grip and to unhook it from between her teeth. Wincing as it dug into her gums even more, she managed to dislodge it. There was a taste of fresh blood in her mouth, but she swallowed and ignored it. Brandishing the wire, she looked Echo dead in the eyes. "Now, what do I need to know about the mountain once I get out of this cage?"

Echo shifted so she was facing her as she became completely serious. "There is a woman who wears a white jacket. She's the one who selects which of us is to be bled. The woman is a demon, she delights in our pain." She spat out the side of her cage in disgust. "She comes in often but not every time. The guards wear beige and white uniforms. If they are going to take one of us out, they come in a pair. However, when they do routine checks there is only one guard. There are hours between checks and when they pull one of us out to be bled."

Lexa nodded in understanding. Good, it didn't seem like they were vigilant. "How closely do they inspect us when they do their checks?"

Echo made a disgusted sound. "Hardly. They check the locks are in place. Sometimes they poke at us through the bars."

Swallowing her bile back, Lexa focused on her mission. Still, was it really the mission that came first or these people? None of them knew that there were still hostages within the mountain. Surely, Heda would prioritize the freeing of her people. "Alright, what weapons do the guards carry on them?"

"Black sticks and guns." She explained.

Frowning, Lexa considered. That was nothing. On the ark, they at least had pepper spray and officers had tasers as well as their shock batons and side arms. So under armed, over confident, and lax security. Good for her, but the connotations for how successful their current methods were was sickening. Their success had bred arrogance for what need was there for caution when no one had ever escaped in the years they'd been doing this. Reaching her hands out the front of the cage, she began to pick the lock. "Does anyone else come in?"

Echo shook her head. "A pale cruel man comes in occasionally but very rarely. There is also a small pale medical apprentice who enters sometimes but she is not allowed and the guards take her out if she enters."

There was a click as the lock unlatched. Lexa grinned in victory before carefully arranging it so the lock didn't look like it had been undone. "Is there anything else I need to know?"

The woman stared at her curiously. A man in the cage below spoke in a hoarse voice. "Owen made it out of his cage, but as soon as he made it to the door the lights flashed and there were loud noises sounding an alarm."

Lexa paused, that wasn't good. They must have some sort of alarmed security system but what triggered it? "Did the alarm sound before he tried to open the door?"

"He got the door open, it was as soon as he walked through it." The man explained.

"So, it wasn't the lack of an access code or key card." She murmured as she ran through security measures in her head. It could be a motion sensor but it didn't seem likely considering the others that exited and entered the room. Perhaps… Her frown deepened as she began to pat herself down. It took her moments to find the lump on her arm. Shit.

Breathing out, she considered her options. She'd have to remove the damn thing before she could leave the room. That and she'd need to rewrap the wound on her back where her beacon for Raven was located. She could feel the trickle of blood running down from it. It must have opened up when they cleaned her. She could tell by the missing dirt and the vague soreness all over her body that they had cleaned her while she was out and not very gently. Her skin hadn't been this clean since the ark but it felt raw in a way only the harshest scrubbings could have inflicted. The motley collection of bruises and stitched cuts in various stages of healing stood out starkly against her pale skin. Maybe she could use this to change her escape plan. "I'll need your help. The longer it takes for them to realize I'm out and scouting their base the better."

"You're not going to free us?" Echo asked in confusion.

"I can't. My orders were to get caught. If I had the opportunity after that, to get a radio and report back the information I had gained. Otherwise I was to escape if at all possible to ensure that information does not fall into the hands of the mountain. This… you being alive changes things. I need to contact Heda. She must know of this so we can change our plans. I'll come back for you. I'll leave you with the lock pick though. If I don't return then you get everyone out." She nodded sharply, she couldn't just leave these people. To hell with escaping, she needed to get these people out. Still, with them this weak she'd need to stage a distraction to keep the mountain busy if she was going to have any chance of succeeding. "Do you all have the lump in your arms?"

"Yes." Echo said touching her bandaged arm. There were several noises of agreement.

Lexa considered the possibilities. "There is a piece of tech inside of our arms. It's how they knew Owen was out of this prison. Once I'm out I'll give Echo the lock pick and a scalpel. You will all need to cut the things out of your arms. Pass the tools along and be prepared to go. If I'm gone for more than two days you get everyone out without my go ahead. Understood?"

"Yes. We can do that." Echo said holding out her hand.

Reaching out Lexa placed the piece of wire into the woman's hand. "Remember. Two days. I need time to alert them to what's going on in here. I have a way to communicate with Heda. I'm sure she'll send warriors to help you once you hit the tunnels."

"How can you be so sure of that? No Heda has pierced the mountain's defenses." The man below her asked.

"No Heda has created an alliance among all the clans before either. She will come for us and the mountain will fall." Lexa pronounced.

-TLGTLGTLGTLGTLGTLGTLGTLGTLG-

Sitting in that cramped cage was hell, but Lexa remained waiting for the next guard sweep. She'd have one chance at this. Finally, the door on the far side of the room opened and a guard dressed as the others had described entered. It struck her as pathetic that he didn't pick up on the change of atmosphere. Her fellow prisoners were alive in ways they hadn't been when she first entered. It was amazing what hope could do to change a person even in such dire circumstances. The guard however, remained oblivious. As he passed them, the boy across the aisle from her began rattling his cage.

Lexa waited till the guard's back was turned to her before easing the door to her own cage open. Ignoring the man as he mocked the boy, she took a deep breath, she had to get him with her first strike. She was injured, tired, and practically naked. The guard would be able to overpower her if he was given the chance.

Lunging forward, she slammed into him. Using one hand to the back of the head she smashed his head into the front gate of the cage as hard as she could. He went down and she went down on top of him. Her hands scrambled wrapping around his neck. Putting all of her strength into it, she banged his head against the ground over and over again while gripping his neck tightly. She waited until she had taken ten long breaths, holding it in as long she could, before she released his neck. Panting, she swung her head back and forth double checking what she already knew was true. There was no one else there. Standing stiffly, she accepted the approving murmurs from the others.

First order of business, she dropped back down and began to unfasten the pants of the dead guard. She needed to get them off of him before he began to defecate. Perhaps unsurprisingly after the many reaper bodies she'd stripped, she made quick work of it. She felt on old familiarity as she grabbed his wrist watch and unhooked his utility belt. Once she had him down to his under garments, she headed to the table with medical supplies.

It took some poking around but she found a hose. Running some cold water over her back to clean her wound was painful, but after the initial pain it had a soothing numbing effect. As soon as she was sure that it was as clean as she was going to get it, she shut off the water. Shifting through the drawers she found a medical kit like the ones stored at the various guard stations on the ark. She took out one of the rolls of gauze inside and wrapped it around her back hoping that the pressure would stop the bleeding.

Shifting through the contents of the first aid kit, she found what she needed. First, she wiped an alcohol wipe over the area. Then, using the scissors, she cut a small line over the bump. For a brief second, she closed her eyes in pain but she had to keep going. Picking up the tweezers, she carefully found the chip and pulled it out. Swearing a bit, she put the chip down and wiped most of the blood away before putting on some antibiotic cream and a bandage to cover the wound. Yanking her hair back she braided it as efficiently as possible. Hair was too identifiable, it could give her away. It was a risk she couldn't take. Wrapping it around her head, she managed to secure it so it would fit under the hat of the guard.

As ready as she was going to be, she began pulling on the dead guards clothing. It was big on her, but with some creative creasing and tucking it was hardly noticeable. She looked up at Echo. "Do I pass for one of them?"

"You're not as pale, but at first look you could pass for one of them." She informed her critically.

Nodding, Lexa yanked the hat down carefully covering her hair. Taking hold of the gauze, she cut several great swaths of the stuff before heading back to the body of the guard. It was awkward, but she managed to wrap him in the same manner as the others were. Gripping his arms, she dragged him over to her cage before cramming him in as best she could. Fortunately, his limbs hadn't started locking up yet. Twisting and shoving, she was able to get his limbs arranged and his head tilted so it looked as if he was asleep.

Grabbing the tracker she'd cut out of her arm, she tucked it into the gauze around his waist and out of sight. He looked like just another prisoner at first glance. Shutting the door, she snapped the lock closed and panted. He'd been heavy and she was exhausted, drugged, and in pain. Still, luck seemed to be on her side, he'd had radio on his belt. Stepping to Echo's cage she passed her the wire she used to pick the lock and the scissors from the first aid kit and gripped the woman's hand. "Good luck."

"May the spirits protect and guide you." She replied, gripping her hand back just as tight.

Letting the strength of the blessing soak through her, Lexa gave herself a moment. She quickly returned the first aid kit to where she found it and then headed for the door. Squaring herself up and falling into the stance of an ark guard, she opened the door with the dead man's key card.

The medical room was brightly lit and fortunately empty. Making her way out of the room as quickly as possible without breaking stride, she made it out into the hall. The exposed concrete and unnaturally bright lighting burnt at her eyes. Her heart thudded in her chest, her mouth was dry. Scanning out of the side of her eyes, she watched for a utility closet.

Her breathing was getting heavy as she spotted another guard. Keeping her head tilted so the bill of her hat masked as much of her face as possible, she tried to appear as casual as she could. He didn't even glance in her direction, just breezing by without a care. She turned a corner to the left and she saw the familiar markings of a utility closet. After a quick check that she was alone, she swiped her card opening it and ducked inside, shutting the door behind her. Her back thudded against the door as she breathed easy for the first time since she'd woken in the cage.

Pushing herself off the door, she took in the interior. It was a mix of cleaning equipment, folded towels, and spare parts for repairs. There on enameled on the wall of the closet was exactly what she'd been hoping for. "Jackpot."

-TLGTLGTLGTLGTLGTLGTLGTLGTLGTLG-

Clarke looked up from her paperwork. She'd had the accounts of the trade through the Ouskejon border brought to her from Polis. Keeping a weather eye on the movement of goods was a good way to measure the climate of the clans. High trade was a good sign. However, it was also important to see who was trading for what, stockpiling what. It was boring, painfully dull and frustratingly necessary. So the distraction of a guard stepping in was a welcome one. "What is it?"

Jod's mustache was twitching slightly. "She's done it Heda!"

"Lexa?" She breathed out in surprise.

He nodded briskly. "Yes, she's on the radio device now. Just made contact."

Clarke wasn't even totally conscious of getting to her feet. Ignoring her pauldron that was set to the side, she rushed out, with Jod right on her heels. The warriors and villagers looked up at the sight of their Commander jogging through the camp and into the town with one of her guards following. Clarke ignored them, wasting time when someone was in the Mountain, and able to speak to them would be a crime. She sped up into a full out sprint.

Not bothering with manners, she threw the door open. "Report."

Raven startled, but the wide smile on her face remained. The solemn darker skinned boy was standing guard by her side. Anya was rigidly staring at the radio contraption in wonder. Raven spoke quickly. "She made it." Reaching out, Raven offered Clarke the piece of tech that Raven had shown her how to speak into earlier.

Her hands were sweating as she grabbed the piece of tech and held it to her face. Glancing at Raven, she double checked she should push the button down. "Lexa, you have succeeded?"

It was startling to hear a voice coming from the device even though she knew to expect it. She didn't let her surprise show, her face blank as she listened to the girl who'd been crowding her thoughts as her report came crackling out of the black box.

"-Heda! I made it in, escaped the cages and am currently hiding in a storage closet with a full mountain guard uniform. Also, I have important information.-"

"Well done. What news?"

"-The people the mountain takes, they're alive. Or well a lot of them are.-"

Clarke saw the others showing their shock out of the corner of her eye. Clearing her throat, she clicked the button again. "They're alive..." She paused and forced her curiosity back. "Start at the beginning and report."

"-I was shot with a drugged dart that knocked me out not far from the third creek I crossed. When I woke up I was in a metal cage. It was maybe three feet by three feet. I had been stripped and cleaned. Not sure what they did to clean me, but it felt like they'd taken a brush to me and scrubbed me down. Minimal covering via gauze was applied. I believe it was for cleanliness. The room I woke in was lined with cages three high. There were rows of cages. At least two hundred of our people.-"

"Were you able to speak with them?" Clarke asked urgently.

"-Yes, not all of them were fully conscious but my neighbor was a warrior named Echo. I've left my lock-pick and a pair of scissors with her. If I don't return in two days' time, she will help the others get out into the tunnels and to you.-"

It was impressive. The woman had ended up in an unprecedented situation, taken charge and set a contingency plan in the likely case of her death. "I take it there was more to the plan then that."

"-Yes. I've instructed Echo as well as any of the others who could hear on how to disable the security system so they could get out without alerting the mountain. We have a short timetable though before they discover I'm here.-"

Clarke caught on that Raven was writing down everything Lexa was saying. "How secure is your current position?"

"-Well it's a closet. So, as secure as I'm likely to get here.-"

Raven let out a snort. Whatever it was that had amused the girl was lost on Clarke though. "Why is your timetable so short then?"

"-I killed a guard. He's stuffed into my former cage. Unless they go looking for him in the cages they shouldn't find him. However, when they realize he's missing and pull up what areas he's accessed with his keycard they'll find me. So, we have a day, maybe before I'll be a liability to you.-"

Clarke leaned back and considered. This changed everything. If her people were alive, she had to get them out before she could do anything. It might be the best not to risk further access to the mountain so that Lexa could help coordinate their escape with this radio. However, these sky children had proven knowledgeable maybe they could come up with a better plan. Looking over at the two sky children, she asked, "Any ideas on what is the best use of her time in there?"

Raven tilted her head as she considered for a second. "I can guide her through some sabotage from here but considering the time frame she has it would have to be a one-shot deal. They likely have alarms in place over their key systems so Lexa would have to be careful."

Clarke quickly contemplated her options, before speaking into the piece of technology once more. "Lexa your first priority must be the people captured by the mountain but we will need a distraction to get them out safely. Do you think you could find their food stores? If you can get there and destroy as much as you can, the mountain will fall much more quickly. It will also focus their attention away from their prisoners and outer defenses which will give us time we desperately need."

"-I think I can do that. They have a basic evacuation route map on the wall in here. It doesn't have their food stores labeled but I think I can find it. Though if I want the halls to be clear of people it's best I wait till it's night.-"

Raven grinned and took the tech piece they spoke into. "You hail me if you have any trouble with electronic security. Do you think you could get to the armory? Because I could totally walk you through setting up some timed explosives around their food stores. That will provide quite a distraction don't you think?"

"-Raven, you evil genius.-" There was the sound of Lexa taking a shaky breath. "-Yeah I can definitely do that. I even have some training dealing with explosives just in case we ever had to defuse one on the ark.-"

Clarke took back the tech from Raven with a slight warning glance. "We'll need to get the timing all worked out ahead of time. This operation is going to be all about timing. Can you stay hidden for a bit while I discuss things with my generals?"

"-I can do that. I could definitely use some rest. Whatever they knocked me out with is still in my system.-"

Clarke was sympathetic but knew they could ill afford to let her rest completely while she was in enemy territory. "I want frequent reports to Raven while you're there. I will leave Jod in charge of any orders in my place while I organize the army to move as soon as necessary. Don't die."

"-No dying, that's the trick.-"

Handing back the tech Clarke stepped back. "I want frequent updates. Send a runner if anything significant changes. Anya, with me. There's work to be done."

Clarke left the building and headed for Roan. She'd need Tristan and Ontari as well. There was a war to plan, and one she intended to win.