Chapter 39
Ash woke up the next morning to sunlight streaming into the back of the Rover. She was alone, though. So, she popped right up and hopped out of the back looking for Clarke. When she looked back into the Rover, she noticed that the panels were gone. Checking the Rover, she saw that they were back attached to the outside and helping the vehicle charge for the next part of their journey.
She looked around at the silent timber. It was a testament to those that came before them and Ash couldn't help but wonder if this was a common sight after the bombs fell. The sun was super warm and harsh. She felt its effect more earlier in the day. She knew that the ground was going to look different, but after two days of sand and sun, seeing the burnt hardwoods, standing in silent guard to what they once were frightened her.
She knew that Clarke was chasing ghosts. Or, trying to outrun them. She wasn't sure which, but she could tell that Clarke was driven to do it.
Seeing that forest made Ash wonder what the ice fields looked like in Azgeda. It made her wonder how high the dunes in Sangeda had gotten. She'd been out west to the the famous grasslands of the Plains Riders. She wanted to ask if it was a burnt waste land, too, but she still couldn't find Clarke.
She'd packed up their bedrolls. She'd checked their water and rations. They still have five days worth. It would last them to until they got to the Valley, she supposed. She wasn't sure how long Clarke was planning to stay in Polis or Arkadia. She looked around the back of the Rover again. There was a rifle missing. It was one the one that Clarke had taken from the bunker on the way to Becca's lab. She dug around and realized that Clarke hadn't taken anything with her. Ash knew then that Clarke couldn't be that far away. It helped calm her down, but she knew that she wouldn't be completely calm until Clarke came back.
A few minutes later, Clarke came up to the back of the Rover. She surprised Ash a little with how quiet she'd been when she walked up. Part of Ash was proud of her, but another part of her was worried, too. She looked at Clarke but got nothing from her. Clarke gave her a small smile and went back to packing up stuff.
"You ready to go?" Clarke asked her. "Do you need to relieve yourself or anything? I want to get going to Polis."
"I'm ready to go," Ash replied.
"Well, get up in the front and let's go," Clarke told her.
Her smile got a little bigger. She reached over and grabbed a handful of jerky and berries. She cleaned up her rooting around and dropped out of the back of the Rover. She kept looking at Ash until she got out of the Rover and headed for the front to get in the passenger seat. Clarke waited for her to round the side of the Rover. Once she cleared the side, Clarke shut the back up and locked the doors. She went back up to the front and climbed into the driver's seat. She started the Rover and they began their journey to Polis.
Ash would study her and then stare out the windows to the passing landscape. Clarke just kept her eyes forward as they kept on. She knew the way to Polis, but most of the landscape was completely different. She wondered if Ash could tell the difference beside the charred trunks that made the land look like a giant's cemetery. They were both a little quiet. Both of them were wondering what the other was thinking, but neither of them asked. They both just stared at the landscape as it flew by in the windows.
And, then Clarke crested the hill that overlooked Polis. The tower was gone. The vegetation was gone. There were no trees. There was nothing but remnants of the old buildings and sand as far as the eye could see. Buildings were either just gone or crumbled in on themselves. Walls that were once metal or wood were missing. The whole town looked vacant. And, it hurt them both because they knew how teeming with life it used to be.
"Welcome to Polis," Clarke said as she started down the hill into the city proper.
She heard Ash take in a quick breath. She knew how haunting the view was, but it was nothing compared to what was actually seen in the heart of the old city. The tower was in pieces on the ground. She knew that she couldn't show Ash the bunker no matter how much she wanted to, but she could tell her about it. Clarke realized when she pulled up to the base of the tower, that she was unloading memories on Ash.
"It isn't fair what I'm telling you," Clarke said.
"Why do you say that, Skaifaya?"
"I'm tell you about the lives that I've already lived. They don't affect you though. You're going to be reborn again, like me. I'm the one that is cursed and reliving all of this. I shouldn't have brought you here. We should have just gone to Arkadia," Clarke lamented.
"There is no reason that you shouldn't share this with me, Skaifaya. I might not share in your burden, but I am someone that you can talk to and unload on. I might not understand it all, but I'm still here. I chose to be here, remember? I've not left you, yet. Why would I stop now?" Ash questioned.
Clarke gave her a weak smile. She was grateful for the sentiment, but she knew that Ash would never understand. She knew that she couldn't, and even Ash stated as much. Clarke wouldn't sentence anyone to this fresh Hell. But, she knew that if there was some way for Ash to take the burden as well, she would. Clarke didn't want that for her. She knew that it would be nice to have someone that understood what she was going through. It might have only been a few recycles for Clarke, but she could always feel herself on the edge. If anyone was going to break from this craziness, Clarke decided it was going to be her.
Clarke didn't say anything. She didn't feel that she needed to, so she just got out of the Rover and started heading for the base of the tower. She started to climb up the ruble of the tower. She knew what she was looking for and nothing was going to stop her until she found it. She started digging until she hit the iron and wood of the Throne of Heda. She pulled and pulled until she got a piece of wood to release from the throne. She wanted a piece of Lexa, and it was the closest thing that she could have in any life where Lexa had died. She didn't even have the Flame. All she would have would be this piece of the throne.
"What's that?" Ash asked as she climbed up beside her.
"A piece of Lexa's throne," Clarke answered as she stood up on the pile of ruble.
Ash just looked at her. She didn't know what to say, but she knew that it wouldn't be a good idea to remind Clarke that Ontari was the last one to sit upon it. She just kept her eyes on her sekken as she trooped over the remains of Polis. She knew that Clarke was not well, but Clarke was determined to make it to Louwoda Kliron and to Madi. That was her driving force in life. Madi was the reason that she was still pushing on with life and not finding a way to die. Ash wasn't a fool. She knew that Clarke having her with her was just basically for comfort, but Ash wasn't going to abandon her.
She reached over at one point and put her hand on Clarke's shoulder. It was just a gentle reminder that she was there for Clarke. Polis was gone, but Ash wasn't. Clarke reached up and held her hand. They continued through the city for another hour or so, before Clarke circled back around near the tower.
"I want to show you something else," Clarke said as they just stood there staring at the ruble.
"Chit?" Ash questioned. (What?)
Clarke moved through the debris. She moved some of the ruble and then Ash started to help her. When she got down far enough, the blonde stopped and looked up.
"I don't know why I'm telling you this, but I feel like I need to do it. I can't believe that you are going to recycle and relive all this like I am, but…"
"Clarke, just tell me," Ash urged her.
"Under the Temple of the Flame, there is a huge bunker. It was built by a cult before the bombs. We found it in one of my past lives. It will hold like a thousand people and no more. It could be used before Praimfaya, but the key would need be found. To do that, Skaikru would have to find the false bunker, and they will only do that with the right motivation and research in our databanks on history of pre-bomb America. The cult's name is Second Dawn."
Ash looked at her. She could see that Clarke was upset about this. She knew that what Clarke was going to tell her was going to be hard on the blonde, but she knew that it was information that Clarke thought that she needed. It was also information that she needed to remember, on the off chance that she would recycle. She knew that Clarke didn't think that she would, and she didn't know that she would, either. But, it was something that Ash deemed important and it was more than just because Clarke was upset. It was because she could see that Clarke was trying to unload some of the information that she was carrying. This was information that, if she recycled, could be used to save more.
"So, the fake bunker has the key?"
"It will help you get the key to open this bunker."
"Okay, Clarke," Ash replied.
"If you give this information to Lexa, she might be able to open it. Titus won't be able to, because he doesn't believe. He will try to stop it from happening. Find another Fleimkepa, if you can find Indra kom Trikru's daughter, Gaia. She'll help you find the entrance."
"I will," Ash stated.
Clarke got quiet then. She didn't reply to Ash's statement. She just stared at the rocks and debris. She went back to digging. Ash dropped down beside her and helped. She didn't know what else to do for Clarke in the moment. But after some time, Ash knew that she had to stop Clarke's movements. There was no one inside it. Everyone else was dead. They were truly the only people left on Earth, besides Madi, but they hadn't made it to her yet.
Ash stood up and looked to the sky. She could tell that the sun was further down than they would want. If they didn't leave or stop soon, then would have to find a place to stay for the night. Ash wasn't sure that Clarke would be able to handle spending the night is the dilapidated city.
She looked back down at Clarke and saw that her hands were starting to bleed. She was still digging through all the ruble. Ash knew that it was time to stop Clarke and move on. She knew that it was going to hurt them both, but it needed to be done. Ash knelt back down and reached for Clarke's hands. Clarke fought her a little, but she stopped when she looked up into Ash's eyes and saw the concern that the spy had for her.
"Clarke..."
"I know," Clarke started. "I know. There is no one there, but..."
"It's okay, Clarke. I understand. But, I know that you want to go Arkadia. We need to go, unless you want to stay here," Ash told her.
"There is nothing more for us here," Clarke said as she stood up.
Clarke looked down at her hands. She saw the scratches and abrasions that the ruble and rocks had created on her hands. Clarke sighed. She'd injured herself trying to get into the bunker, but she knew that they wouldn't be able to get in it. Clarke could never get in it on her own. They would need help, equipment, manpower, and just people. Ash led her slowly back to the Rover. She immediately grabbed some water to rinse Clarke's hands off. She got her hands clean and then looked up into Clarke's eyes.
She saw the emotion overcoming her. She knew that Clarke was breaking. She could see it. She knew that it was only going to be a matter of time before Clarke completely broke. Her hands were a sign of it. Ash knew that she had to get her out of Polis. It was time to go. They needed to leave, but Ash couldn't really drive the Rover. She didn't know how to work it. Clarke hadn't taught her yet, but she realized that she was more than likely going to have to be the one that was driving. Clarke must have understood their plight.
"Get in and I'll tell you what to do," Clarke stated.
"You're sure?"
"You can do this, Ash. I know that you can. It isn't that hard, and it isn't like you really have to worry about hitting anyone or too much of anything else."
She cocked her eyebrow at Clarke. She reached around her and grabbed some of the gauze that Clarke had packed away and wrapped her hands. Once Clarke was all wrapped up, she cleaned up the mess and got Clarke situated into the passenger seat. After closing up the back of the Rover, she walked around and got into the driver's seat. She looked at the wheel, the dash, and realized that she didn't have a clue where to begin.
Clarke reached over and started the vehicle by just pushing a button. She pointed to a gauge. Ash could see that it was a bunch of green bars.
"You push that to start it and to stop it. That gauge tells you how much power it has. Right now, we are fully charged, so all the bars are green. When it starts getting low, it will change to yellow and then finally to a single red bar. When we get to the single red bar, we need to find a place to stop for the night or whatever. That tells us how much power we have. Got it?" Clarke asked her.
"Got it."
"Okay, so down there by your feet are two pedals. The long skinny one makes us go and the fat one makes us brake. That small pedal all the way to the left is an emergency brake. You only use that in emergency or when we are parking the vehicle for a while."
"Okay, that all makes sense," Ash replied.
"Now the wheel is just like reins for a horse," Clarke started.
"Right for right and left for left?" Ash questioned.
"Yes, but you don't have to push a pedal to make it work. You just turn the wheel. Do you think that you can handle all that?"
"I think I can manage," Ash quipped back at her.
Honestly, Ash didn't want to admit that she was a little intimidated by the whole driving thing, but she could see it uses. It got them places a lot faster than just by horse or horse drawn cart. And, it wasn't just because they didn't have any horses. It seemed like a really big, rugged, and very armored carriage. She didn't understand what a mini-gun was, but she knew that it had power. Clarke hadn't loaded it that she'd seen, nor did the blonde seem intent on using it for anything. It was just there on the hood, in front of the passenger, looking intimidating. Ash wondered if Clarke would show her how to use it like she had the rifles and other fayagons that they had collected along the way.
Clarke reached over and tapped a screen. A big red dot appeared over what looked like a map. Ash studied it for a while and realized that it was a pre-bomb map of the area. It gave her the landscape of the land. Well, what it used to look like. She stared at the screen and Clarke tapped at it.
"Don't worry too much about the GPS, here," Clarke stated. "I'm only using it for directions. Whatever satellites that are still in orbit don't know that the world has been blown up and fried. They can only tells us where we are based on triangulation... You know what that doesn't matter. The dot is us. It moves along the map in the direction that we move. And, I'm only using it to get us in the correction direction towards Arkadia."
"Okay," Ash stated.
She had know idea what any of that meant, but she knew the Clarke was going to be navigating them to where they needed to go.
"So, this is just going to tell us that we are going the right way."
"It is going to tell you that, because there is nothing that is going to tell me which way is the right way but the stars now. I have no landmarks to use. So, if this will help us get there faster, then we will use your Tek," Ash told her.
Clarke reached over and pulled the gear shift to the "D."
"Now, your in gear to go forward," Clarke stated. "Ease on to the 'go' pedal and take us that way."
Ash followed her finger. She looked out to the horizon. There was nothing but ruble and sand, but if that was the way that Wanheda said for them to go. Then, that is way she would go.
"Sha, sekken, to Arkadia we march," Ash replied as she stepped hard on the gas, lurching the Rover forward, before finding the right pressure for her foot to give her a speed in which she was comfortable driving.
All the while, they were both thinking, This is going to be an interesting ride (drive) to Arkadia.
