Ch 6 Bellamy after the Mountain.

"The Ark was shaking like crazy. In my section everything went dark and we could hear metal screaming as parts of the ship broke off. We were literally burning up. I thought that was terrifying until we hit. My first thought was I am dead. And then I felt the cold seeping in around my feet and I realized we'd hit water. I thought for sure we were dead, that we'd landed in an ocean somewhere. Then someone in the dark yelled out that it was fresh water. Everyone just moved. Emergency lighting flickered on and off in places. Then the ship rolled on its side and one of the ports was facing the sky letting light in. People were unstrapping themselves, trying to get the kids out. But the water was rising fast. Then someone hit the airlock. It opened. I don't even know how that was possible. Maybe it wasn't even them. A wall of water hit everyone and knocked us ship rocked again and we were mostly in darkness. I made it out of the airlock, I don't even know how and I just kicked off the ship for the surface. It wasn't far. Then the sunlight was stinging my eyes and Commander Tucker was pulling me out of the water onto the ship. He'd pulled lots of people out. The door was right there. I watched for people coming out to pull them up too. But after a couple of minutes of course they stopped coming. There were a hundred people in my section. Twenty two got out. Three feet of water between them and safety. Three lousy feet."

Bellamy looked at the still dark water beneath him as the guard on the airlock pulled him up and into the ship. George followed. The floor was askew. "This area is relatively level" George said as he led the way. Parts of the ship twisted completely upside down during the landing. "How many people got out?" Bellamy asked as he ducked under a bulkhead and into what was clearly being used as a mess hall or meeting space. About a dozen people were sitting round in small groups. "Nearly half of the three hundred we loaded. This section didn't get flooded and some of the sections only flooded slowly and people were able to get out."

At one end a large pot was sitting next to a stack of bowls. George ladled himself out some stew and indicated that Bellamy should do the same. It smelled good. They picked up a piece of flatbread each and George led them to a free table. People had noticed Bellamy and began to ask him questions.

He told them about camp Jaha and that Kane and Jaha were still alive and that Abby was chancellor. He told them that a group of Grounders called Mountain Men had captured some of the 100 and were jamming the radio and that they'd rescued them. He told them that as soon as camp Jaha had picked up their radio signal that he'd been sent to bring working radios and restore communication.

He left out more than he told. He didn't mention tribes or the alliance. Or the high tech bunker hidden in the mountain. Although looking at the tired faces around him, he hoped they would be joining him in the bunker. He didn't tell them about all the people he'd helped kill since he came to earth.

Once they'd eaten George took him up to the next level. Where an area had been set aside for medical treatment and patients. It was empty. Then they climbed through what appeared to be a combination of living and working areas. Until they reached an observation deck. Really it was a ladder that had been placed under a porthole that opened on to what was now the roof of the ship. When they emerged into the sun again it was beginning to set over the water. A makeshift deck with rails had been built on top, extending the useable area. Wick was working on a large pole jutting out of the top. Rigging up an antenna of some sort Bellamy assumed.

"I'm nearly done." He said. Eyeing the water around him nervously. "Have you seen it yet?" He asked Bellamy. Just then out in the water a sinuous movement caught his eye. It was large and snake-like rolling near the surface. Blue light flickered off it for a moment and it was gone. "That is Nessie, our resident sea monster. Best guess is some kind of mutated electric eel. Harmless so far." Bellamy wasn't convinced it didn't look harmless. It's body was easily as thick as a man and many times longer.

"You said one hundred and fifty survived the crash. Where are they?" Bellamy turned to face George. "People got off the Boat and headed for the shore. There was more of it above water then. You could launch yourself from piece to piece until you reached the shallows. We made camp and built a raft to go back for supplies. We didn't know how much further it would sink. The first morning and people started getting sick, vomiting. Doc's best guess was something in the water we had all swallowed. We lost some of the weak and injured in those first few days. Buried fifteen people over there." George said pointing off into the tree line just beyond the shore camp.

"Did the Grounders give you any trouble?" Bellamy asked. It was getting dark quickly now.

"Not at first, but we found some supplies in an abandoned mine shaft and sent a party to bring them in. They never came back. When we sent more men to investigate they found everyone slaughtered and a few Grounders among them. People were missing, parts of people were missing." George leaned over the side and spat into the water. "Savages!"

"Those weren't Grounders. Those were Reapers." George looked at him in confusion. What difference did it matter what they call themselves? Bellamy continued "They were drug crazy slaves of the Mountain Men I told you about. Caught and conditioned to become monsters. Monsters even their own people are afraid of."

"Why would these Mountain Men do that?" George asked unconvinced. Bellamy looked down at his hands. "Because they were sick bastards with no souls! They were prepared to do anything to anyone to survive." Bellamy looked up at George thoughtfully. It was fully dark and the sky was alight with stars and a nearly full moon shining down on them. "But you never met them. Who did you think we were when Octavia let you catch her in the woods?"

George laughed and wrapped his arms tighter around himself. "We thought you were from the City of Light. Men dressed like you showed up a few days ago. They came across the water on big boats. I'm pretty sure they were running with combustion engines. They said they'd come to take everyone to safety. The Civilian leader Doctor Ahmed and Commander Tucker had a big falling out over it. Commander thought everyone should stay until we figured out what happened to the other Arks. Ahmed wanted to get his people to safety. They made this City of Light sound like Utopia. In the end Commander Tucker defied him and said anyone who wanted to stay here could. Ahmed threatened to have him floated. But none of the Guards would do it. Not after he saved so many on that first day. Everyone with half a brain knew he was the only reason we were still alive."

The hatch opened and Georges partner climbed up. "The commander wants to see him. You and I have first watch" George nodded. Then turned to Bellamy to finish his story. "Long story short everyone who got into their boat was murdered. We saw it from here. They were just about to go over the horizon and then the boat exploded. Women, children. Most of our technical staff. Ninety seven years on the Ark. Not blowing up on re-entry. Not drowning during the landing. To go out like that. It just wasn't right."

"I still don't get it, didn't the City of light people explode too." Bellamy asked confused. "Maybe. Rex and a few others swear they saw smaller boats leaving before the explosion. I get it. It doesn't make sense. But that's what happened. Commander Tucker doesn't have much respect for Civilian opinion after that. He reckons we've landed in some sort of war zone and the military needs to run things."

Bellamy was just heading through the door when he asked George what he thought. But all he got in reply was a shrug. The Commander was waiting for him at the bottom of the ladder. Wick had finished his work and the radio was fully operational. "Your Chancellor wants to talk to you." He said, with possibly the glimmer of a smile on his lips. At the newly operational radio center Wick indicated that the operator should pass the radio to Bellamy. The Chancellor thanked him for his work but urged him to move on at first light.

After that Commander Tucker personally showed Wick and Bellamy to the sleeping quarters. There were plenty of empty rooms so they said goodnight to each other and agreed to leave at first light as the Chancellor had requested.

Bellamy couldn't believe he was back in the Ark. He wasn't sure but he thought they were fairly close to the quarters he and Octavia had grown up in. If so they were probably submerged and besides, that hadn't been home for a long time. This was an inner room. When he turned his light off he was in total darkness.

Something lapping at his ear woke him. He sat up and swung his legs over the side of the bed into cold water. Crap! He didn't know which way the exit was. Ahead a vertical beam of light appeared as the door was slowly pushed open and she stood there silhouetted in the starlight, wet clothes clinging to her body. He stared at her. Drinking in the sight of her always serious face, the curve of her neck against her hair silver in the starlight, lingering on her nipples hard against her flimsy top. He felt a stirring in his groin.

"Come on Bellamy we have to get out." She called reaching for him with a wide open hand. He grabbed it and she pulled him through the door and into an embrace. Their bodies pressed against each other, he could feel all of her and he was sure she could feel every inch of him. She looked up into his eyes and he felt her body tremble against his then she pushed him forwards.

He put his arm around her and together they moved through the rapidly rising water. Supporting each other. The door out was in sight. He could see more stars and the full moon. Then a looming shadow appeared in front of them blocking the light.

Finn waded up to Clarke and held her by the shoulders, his face deathly pale. "We have to go back for the children." He said, pointing back in the direction they'd come from. Bellamy looked over his shoulder into the blackness. It was impossible there was no way back. Finn was going to get them killed. "No!" Bellamy growled. But Clarke was already looking between him and Finn, torn. Finn moved beyond her into the darkness and Clarke fixed Bellamy with those deep eyes. "I have to try to save them. They're innocent." she almost whimpered. But she didn't let go of his hand. They turned back into the dark cold waters, together. A long Sinuous body rolled against his legs and then ahead of them they heard a scream and thrashing as Finn went down in a dazzle of blue light. The last thing Bellamy saw before everything faded to black was the fear in Clarke's eyes.

Lincoln and the others met them at the edge of the trees as the sun was creeping over the mountain. His sister grabbed him in a bear hug. Bellamy was glad to be out in the fresh air again. To feel the cold breeze on his skin and fill his lungs with sweet air. Time to find the other two beacons and hope that Chancellor Griffin could bring the angry Commander Tucker back into the fold.