Chapter 34:
The next day Octavia, Lexa and Clarke were on their horses along with 200 warriors in tow. They were heading to Arkadia, the warriors would be left a quarter of a mile back from the camp to prevent any unnecessary ruffled feathers. They were brought along for protection only, not to be an assault team. Lexa had sent the other ambassadors back to their clans to let them know the state of affairs. Their armies were expected to show at both the area surrounding Arkadia and Polis.
When they had reach the quarter mile mark Lexa signalled to the warriors to halt their march. She left word with the man in charge and Clarke left him the radio. She was going to get a second from Raven allowing them all to contact each other. Lexa, Octavia and Clarke rode on further before coming to find Lincoln and a small group of warriors. He led them to the path leading to the escape route from Arkadia that Clarke and Octavia had used last time. They silently made their way through the hole and into the vents. They hopped out in the medical bay again. Clarke quickly rushed around grabbing things they might need and stuffing them into a pack. She followed Lexa and Octavia into another set of vents leading to Raven's area.
The three girls hopped out and greeted Raven quietly.
"Woah, Clarke." Raven said as Clarke hopped out of the vent. "I dig your grounder gear. That's a hot look."
Clarke blushed remembering she was wearing leathers, daggers and Lexa's sword on her back.
Octavia jumped right in, "Where's Monty and Jasper?"
"They're in lock up with Abby and Kane. Something's changed. Pike has been acting increasingly shady since I last spoke to you. Something's happened." Raven warned.
"You don't know what that is?" Lexa asked her.
Raven shook her head, "No, but I can tell you it is most definitely not a good thing. Pike vocal about certain things is scary, but Pike silent about others is worse. He shot Monty's mom point blank yesterday morning for questioning him." A tear dripped from her eye as she said it. "That's why Monty and Jasper were locked up, they started causing trouble in the chaos trying to get at Pike."
Clarke swore and Octavia chucked a piece of metal she had been playing with.
Raven shot a look at her, "Hey! Respect the space please." Octavia rolled her eyes as Raven smiled. "Only I am allowed to destroy things I then have to fix in here."
"Raven, I have to go to the mountain. I have to stop them," Clarke piped up.
Raven nodded and began to move to another desk, Clarke watched as each movement seemed to pain the girl. Clarke followed her to the new desk. "It just so happens I may be able to help with that…"
Clarke knew where this was going, "and the problem is…"
"Well I have a habit of making things go boom and if I make the mountain go boom there will be no more mountain. Period."
Clarke nodded, "What's the problem? How big of a damage zone?"
Raven pulled out the mountain schematics that had been brought to the Ark during a supply run, "Well, I definitely do not have enough rocket fuel to blow the thing to hell BUT I believe we could toy with the computer systems and make their missiles self destruct."
Clarke looked at the schematics and back to Raven, "how many missiles?"
Raven shrugged, "that's the thing…until I have eyes on the system I can't tell for certain. They let one drop on TonDC and it left a pretty big hole in the ground so… if it's more than one I'm thinking the mountains bunker structure might collapse on itself before finally filling in the mines."
Octavia piped up, "Well hell lets do it."
Clarke looked up from her to Lexa and back to Octavia, "A lot of people could die…"
Octavia nodded, "we will try to get them all out Clarke."
Raven then piped up, "They chose this Clarke. They knew making a move on the mountain would cause issue with the grounders. They did it anyways. The people there voted for Pike to be in charge, they followed him blindly believing his bullshit about being destined to rule the earth. Seriously Clarke, they're all fucked up if they fell for his shit."
Clarke stiffened, thinking hard about this course of action.
"These are the same people that killed Lexa's people in the woods that were watching for Ice Nation surrounding the Ark Clarke."
"Blood must have blood," Raven replied bitterly flashing a glance at Lexa. Clarke's mind raced back to when Raven had been accused of trying to poison Lexa. Lexa bowed her head apologetically.
Clarke swallowed, and spoke trying to break the tension, "Okay, let's do it. I need a second radio, we left one with a group in a quarter mile back, when we give you the signal you contact them. They'll come and help free anyone not loyal to Pike. What do I need to get into the computer system?"
Raven rustled around with some gear before handing it to Clarke. "Plug this in, it will let me ghost their systems and hack into the missile locks…one more thing, I'll need Monty.
Clarke nodded and looked to Octavia. "I can get him out," Octavia said to Clarke's silent question. Without another word she had left through the vents heading to lockup.
Clarke continued to watch Raven tinker on the new radio and sync it to the frequency they had been using on the secure channel. Before they knew it they had Octavia stepping out of the vent with Monty, Jasper, Kane and her mom in tow.
Jasper looked horrible, but sober. Monty looked tired, sad but strong. She hugged them all quickly, thankful they were okay.
"I'm coming with you." Jasper said surprising Clarke.
"Jasper are you sure?" Monty asked.
Clarke knew Jasper hadn't been to the mountain since Clarke had killed them all. She shifted her glance to Lexa and felt herself inch closer to her. She needed the strength her presence gave Clarke. Lexa put her hand on Clarke's shoulder and gave it a squeeze encouraging Clarke. Clarke tried to ignore the exchange of glances between Kane and Abby at Lexa's touch.
"We could use a gunner." Clarke admitted smiling at Jasper.
Jasper nodded, "None of us is innocent. They chose to go there, they knew the risks. They knew the consequences."
"Well maybe not all the risks. They only feared a grounder assault…not an assault from me." Raven said matter of factly trying to cut the tension.
Clarke smiled along with everyone else. "Okay gear up, let's get this over with."
Abby hugged Clarke again quickly before she and Kane headed out in another set of vents to gather supplies and weapons and other people that were on their side.
When they were about to leave Clarke looked back to find Lexa standing in front of Raven. Clarke paused as Jasper and Octavia got into the vent.
"I gave my men orders to march on your word Raven, you only have to announce yourself. They will come to aid you."
Raven nodded, "I got it. I got this." She shot a glance at Clarke before looking back to Lexa, "Keep her safe."
Lexa smiled and reached to squeeze Raven's hand, "You have my word Raven." Clarke heard the sincerity in her tone and noted that Raven had too.
Without another word Lexa was at Clarke's side holding out a hand to assist Clarke into the vent.
Clarke looked back at Raven as she accepted Lexa's help, Clarke saw Raven roll her eyes at the two of them, "Geez you two need to get a room." Her tone half disgusted half joking.
Clarke couldn't even respond before Lexa stole the words right out of her mouth, "We have one." Clarke froze as she stared at Lexa in shock of her sense of humour as Raven burst out laughing. It was infectious as Clarke giggled and shot into the vent with Lexa in tow behind her.