Chapter 37

She sat a table near the front of the room. Echo and Aeolus were beside her. The other Azgeda warriors were stationed around the room. She could tell that it made some of Trikru nervous, but she was Wanheda so they were trying to let it go.

Jackson and some of the other Skaikru were busy talking amongst themselves. Clarke knew that she'd always done things a little unorthodox for them, but they all needed to work together. She wasn't going to let everyone break back into to the twelve clans. She could only hope that what Octavia started with Wonkru could be continued under her and Madi's leadership. She knew that it wasn't going to be easy. Some of her people saw her as traitor that sided with the Grounders more than she did with her own people. Usually she had reason to do so, but it didn't mean it made it any easier for her. Then, there was the fact that Lexa had left them at the mountain. Some of Skaikru just couldn't let it go. Clarke had. Hell, Lexa tried to fix things before she died. It wouldn't have been so bad for all of them if Pike had never massacred the army...

"Clarke?"

"Yes, Miller?" she asked as Nathan approached and sat down.

He wasn't contested and Clarke knew it was because Echo didn't flinch as he sat. She knew who he was. She knew that he supported Madi and Clarke.

"What do you need from us?" he asked.

"I already told you, Nathan."

"No, you told us what was going on and what was going to happen. What do you need us to do? We have weapons. We have training. All of Octavia's guards were taught both Grounder and Arker methods. What do you need me to do?" he asked again.

"All of her guards?" Clarke asked.

"Yes."

"Are they all awake?"

"I don't know."

"Get with Jackson and Jordan. Find them all. Wake them if they aren't. Then meet me back in the loading bay. We have some things to discuss."

"Sha, Wanheda," he answered.

She watched him leave. He tapped two Trikru warriors and another Skaikru before getting Jackson and Jordan. Jackson just turned to look at her. She smiled and he returned it.

He hadn't given her good news about Kane. He was still weak. He wasn't sure that Kane would wake peacefully if they woke him. It wasn't an easy decision but they didn't want him to suffer. They would leave him behind, but they would take all the information that they could down to Abby. When the time was right, Clarke would send Abby and Jackson both to go bring him down, chryo bed and all if needed.

"Wanheda," Aeolus said quietly enough to make her look up.

Diyoza was coming in the mess hall. She had a few prisoners with her. Amazingly enough there were twenty with her, and of the twenty, eight were women. She slowly made her way across the mess to Clarke's table.

Clarke felt more than saw Aeolus move his hand to a blade on his thigh as Diyoza came closer. She just reached over and touched him. It was enough to let him know to act...yet. She doubted that Diyoza would do anything, but she was never sure with the former Navy Seal.

"Clarke," Diyoza said as she sat down in front of her without invitation.

Aeolus bristled, but Echo laughed at the action. Diyoza gave both guards a smile. She handed Clarke a list.

"These are my men. Ten of them are former Seals that turned and joined me before we were captured and sent to mine. They are loyal and will do whatever I ask of them. The other ten, well...I trust them after what happened on the asteroid we were mining and what happened in Eden."

"And, the others?"

"Still sleeping. Not sure what I believe they'll do, but I am not sure that they are ready to fight. They might just start killing whoever is next to them and I'm not ready for a blood bath. A war I can handle, but let my own men die because of the psychopath beside them is a little far fetched. Honestly, I am not sure that I want some of them down there with us, but you and Madi told us we could prove ourselves for freedom."

"We did."

"So, I think it would be best if they were left to sleep for now," Diyoza stated.

"I accept your judgement. You've had more time with them than we have. I respect your decision, Colonel," Clarke said using her rank respectfully.

"Didn't think that I'd ever hear that again."

"Well, no time like the present to be something that you once were, again," Clarke stated.

"I don't think that anyone from Wonkru will listen to me."

"You don't know that, Diyoza. But, then again, I think that I am not going to let your men on the front lines," Clarke started but put her hand up to stop Diyoza's complaint before continuing. "I have my reasons. One of which is the fact that you all know technology. We are going to need help in fortifying the barracks should supporting the wall fail and we have limited time in which to do it. I know that with some of the tech we are taking down, courtesy of Raven and the ship, we will be able to set a defense. I want you to be incharge of that defense. I already told you that I wasn't going to let you on the front line in your condition."

"You want me to protect the ol' homestead?"

"Yes, I do."

"I think I can handle that," Diyoza stated.

"Plus, this will give you time to nest," Clarke told her in jest.

"Don't put it passed me."

"I won't. Besides with you there, I know that the wounded we send back will be protected. I also know that you will keep the colony functioning and moving to get ready for permanent settlement. I need to know that even if we are fighting, we are still getting ready to set down our roots here. I can't be in two places at once. And, as much as I love my daughter, she isn't going to stay back if I go fight and neither will I given the roles reversed. So, even if I don't like it, Madi will be with me on the front lines. This means that I'll be leaving you and Raven in charge in the rear. I need to know that things will be taken care of...in case something bad happens. Can I count on you for that?" Clarke asked her.

"You've got my word."

"Good, now go feed your men and find whatever weapons you want. If you need help with anything, see if you can find Jordan. He knows where Monty hid everything while we were asleep."

"Aye, aye, Wanheda," she answered with a mock salute as she stood up and rejoined her men.

"Do you think that she'll be okay at the barracks?" Echo asked when she was out of earshot.

"Yes, I do. She wants what we want, Echo. She wants a second, third or fourth chance at a life in peace. She's willing to fight for it, but she knows that we are all in this together this time. We aren't fighting for the right to live on the fertile ground. We are fight to just be. It is different."

"Is it?"

"I have to believe it," Clarke answered.

"And, Madi?"

"She is still the Commander. She is still trying to save her people and maintain the legacy of peace that Lexa started. I want us to be worthy of that, but I am not delusional enough to believe that we are going to secure that legacy without some bloodshed."

"And, the Praha?"

"Seem to be an issue for the Terrens and as much as I hate to say it, they remind me of Azgeda."

"I know," Echo said with regret in her voice.

"Sister!" Aeolus replied.

"Listen, Aeolus, you don't know what it was like for me. Nia was ruthless and tyrannical. She killed Lexa's lover just to get to her. It also didn't help that girl didn't tell Nia what she wanted to hear. I was a spy. I knew what Nia wanted. You did, too and don't deny it. She wanted power and position. Lexa stood in her way, so Lexa had to die or fail. She didn't, though, brother and do you know why?"

"Because her people believed in her," Aeolus stated.

"Exactly, they believed in their Heda. The same as I do now. Madi is young, but she has Lexa in her heart and Clarke at her side. The Praha attacked us without provocation and deliberately. And, we both know that an attack on one of heda's guards is like..."

"An attack on heda herself," he finished.

"Yes, but she doesn't have twelve clans behind her like Lexa. She has one. Octavia united the clans and Madi is maintaining that. We aren't on Earth anymore. We aren't Azgeda or Trikru or Podakru. We are Wonkru. We fight as one for our shared prosperity. I think that everyone is onboard with that. Now, don't get me wrong. I don't want to forget what being from Azgeda means to me, but I can't go into this being Azgedian. I have to Wonkru or we are going to fail at being worthy of this chance at life," Echo told him.

He looked at his sister in disbelief, but he understood everything that she was saying. It was odd for him to be sitting next to Clarke and not wanting to kill her. Being from Azgeda and knowing that Queen Nia had put a bounty on her head made his squirm with wanting her death. But, then he remembered that she was one of King Roan's, Nia's son's, council. They had tried to save them all together. Clarke had never been selfish in her want of life. She wanted peace and wanted to save as many lives as she could. But looking at her, this blonde warrior, he couldn't see Mountain Slayer. He couldn't picture her as the great Wanheda, but her knew that his sister had had more dealings with her. She's been in the mountain. She'd fought beside Clarke and she trusted her. He also knew that it Clarke that was trusting him with her own life making him a personal guard.

"I'm sorry if I offended you, Wanheda," he stated.

"You haven't, Aeolus. I know that this must be hard for you. Nia died. Roan released you and then the world ended in Praimfaya. It wasn't like you ever had time to see the person that your sister or I became. You've only heard through rumor and story. She kept them alive in space while you were in the bunker. I survived on a small patch of land that wasn't destroyed. Life moved on. You both believed that you'd lost the other. Be grateful that you are together."

He nodded.

"Look around, Aeolus. This people are the last of Earth. They are all your cousins, brothers, sister, aunts, and uncles now. There are no clans. We are all one giant family and I intend on keeping us together and alive. Can you live with that?"

"Sha, Wanheda. Sha."

"Good. Let's go see which kru we have to deal with next," Clarke stated as she stood up from her seat, grabbing Diyoza's list and small tablet. "Hmm, looks like Podakru is in the cargo bay this time and Trishanakru is in the gym. Ready?"

The both nodded as they all headed back into the belly of the ship. It was going to be a long few hours. But, they knew that it was necessary. Clarke looked down at her right wrist for her father's watch. It was still gone, but she felt like he was with her. She knew that he would understand what she was doing and why she was doing it. Her mother not so much, but she was getting there.

Clarke found a direct comm to the bridge and hit the mic, "Raven, time?"

"Five hours and counting."

"You talked to Indra?"

"Yep, there ready to go."

"And, O?"

"She'll be with Madi like you planned."

"Good. See you in the launch bay in a few hours. Finish up whatever you need on the bridge, then turn it back over to Shaw. Get Emori and get your tech loaded. We need to be ready to go in four and half hours."

"Got it," Raven answered back.

Clarke let go of the button and turned to enter the gym. She knew that they people inside were from Trishana or "The Glowing Forest." She knew that they were going to be skeptical of what she had to say. Especially, if she used English, or the Warriors' language. She looked to Echo and the Aeolus as they entered and started running through things to say in Trigedaslenge. She sighed. It was going to be a long speech...

"Hei. Shof op. Em ste Wanheda," Echo started. "She has something to tell you. Wanheda..."

Clarke looked from Echo to the crowd before her. Leave it to Echo to let her talk in her native tongue. Echo would translate as needed, but she hoped that it wasn't going to be that bad. There were enough warriors mixed with each clan to get the message across. It would have to be enough.

"We've woken you all to let you know that Earth is gone. But, we've found another place to live. We are going down there and we are going to build a settlement, start new lives and thrive. Unfortunately, some of the locals aren't really happy that we are coming it seems. We are going to have to fight for the land that we've been given. I need to know who is willing to fight and I need to know that you are all still loyal to Heda kom Wondru."

"SHA, WANHEDA!" was all she heard.

Turning to Echo, "Now, if they were all so easy."

"Sha," Echo replied.

"Aeolus, find their leader. Tell him to get his people fed, supplied, armed if they got something and then to the launch bay. We don't have all day."

"Sha, Wanheda," he replied and moved forward.

"He'll take care of it. Shouldn't we head to the cargo bay and talk to Podakru?"

"Yeah, but first we find Murphy and Jordan."

"Why?"

"We need to get everyone up and we're running out of time," Clarke stated as they left Aeolus with the Trishana in the gym.