Abby got out of her chair and stood behind Ontari's. "Do you mind?"
Ontari looked at Clarke. "She just wants to examine it, make sure you're ok," Clarke told her.
Ontari nodded, and Abby moved her hair aside. "I've seen blankets stitched better than this was," Abby said. She probed around the scar with her fingers, and found the chip. It wasn't deeply embedded and felt like it floated over Ontari's vertebra. "Thank you," she said, and replaced Ontari's hair on her back. "May I see your hand? Yours, too, Clarke."
They displayed their palms. Their palms were healed, the only indication that anything happened the dried black and brown blood on both their hands. "How can that happen?" Abby asked quietly, and returned to her seat while Ontari put her hand against Clarke's. She put her fingers between Clarke's and curled them over her knuckles, and Clarke did the same, her hold much looser.
"Before you guys got here, Miller was here. He brought this tin." Clarke opened it and displayed the contents. "Jaha put a spy in our group. Miller's got him, and he's trying to find out if anyone else took one of the chips." She smothered a giggle, relieved that she was finally drunk enough not to care. "I know you want to research them, so you can have a couple to look at, and you can take the one out of Sora so we can see what it does," she told her mother.
"And since Jaha has a spy here," Clarke looked at Ontari, "you're gonna have to lock down the city so he and the A.I. can't get in, or out if they're here. They're probably looking for that escape pod for some reason."
"They want the chip," Murphy said. "The one in her."
"They can't have it," Clarke said. "Nobody's taking Lexa from me again. Or you," she added and leaned against Ontari.
Ontari smiled.
"Clarke, don't you think you're rushing into this?"
"Mom, just shut the hell up about my life before I start asking you about yours."
The others ignored Clarke's outburst, and Abby decided to hold that discussion for a time she and Clarke were alone and Clarke was sober.
"We must do something about Titus," Roan said.
"He will not act directly against Klark, but he may encourage others to act. Heda Leksa made him swear that would not directly attack Klark."
"I see why you called Murphy an insurance policy."
"Marcus, you've been quiet," Clarke observed.
"It's a lot to take in. I see why you were hesitant to tell anyone, Clarke." He held out his mug for a refill and ignored Abby's dirty look. "I think that first, we have to help Miller determine whether there are more chips or spies in our group. I'm not certain what to do about Titus. I doubt he'll trust anything we say."
"He will not," Ontari said. "He hates Skaikru, especially Klark. He believes Klark unduly influenced Heda Leksa and that all Skaikru should be punished for the actions of a few."
"This threatens his power. He has been Fleimkepa for many years, as long as I remember," Roan said.
"Is he training an apprentice?" Marcus asked.
"He should be, but resists." Roan took a drink, his brow furrowed in thought. "Perhaps he has a chip, too."
"Does he have a scar on his neck?"
"It is always covered." Roan emptied his mug and set it aside. "I think Azgeda will wait a few more days."
"I'd like to look at Ontari's blood under a microscope."
"One drop," Clarke answered.
"Microscope?" Ontari asked.
"It has powerful lenses so it can see things so small they're otherwise invisible. Like a super spyglass." Clarke was impressed with her ability to make sense, and that she wasn't slurring words. She finished yet another mug and was going to refill it when Ontari moved the bottle away.
"That is enough for now, Klark. We still have much to do."
"Sha."
"Eat a little more. When we finish everything we must do today, you may drink more if you wish."
It will not make you feel better, Klark. You will do as you must, but being drunk leaves you slow and vulnerable. It makes it harder for us to protect you. Stay with us, Klark. Clarke rolled her neck and picked at her plate.
"Skaikru won't have scars," Murphy said. "You swallow those chips." He finished his mug, too, and like Clarke, started to eat.
Roan looked across the table. "We have not been introduced. I am Roan kom Azgeda."
"King," Murphy added.
Marcus introduced himself and Abby and explained who they were.
"I thought the Ice Nation had a queen," Marcus asked when he finished their introductions.
"That is another long story for another day," Roan said.
"Damn," Murphy muttered.
"Problem, Skaiskat?"
"No problem, Commander. I thought I might find out how the Ice Nation got a king."
"Another day," Roan repeated. "It is a very long story and will distract us from what we must do. When Skaikru finishes eating, we will go upstairs and see the rest of them."
"Don't forget Roger and Fay," Clarke said.
"Sha. They may be in the library, or perhaps the workshop."
"I will send a guard for them," Roan said and got up. He went to the door, and sent another guard. The hallway was full of them. His guards were there, as well as Ontari's, Clarke's, Murphy's, and those who watched the doors.
Clarke pushed her plate away and ignored both Ontari's disappointed look and Lexa's suggestion that she eat more. She looked at Murphy, whose plate was empty. "Let's go," she said, and stood up.
Roan watched her shake off Ontari's help and walk across the room. She was looser, less stiff, but didn't sway or stumble. It took a few moments to sort all the guards, but Clarke didn't wait. She went for the stairs and was up the first flight, Ontari on her heels, before the others reached the door.
They waited for the rest of them on the landing at the floor assigned to Skaikru. "When we're finished," Clark said, "I'm going to drink an entire fucking bottle of moonshine."
"Why?"
"This is the first time I can breathe."
"You can breathe with me, Klark."
"Not yet."
"You can, Klark," Ontari insisted. "Look at me."
"I don't want to see her."
"Look at me," Ontari repeated. She raised Clarke's chin and waited.
She had one green eye and one brown. "I hate when you do that to her, Leksa."
"You do not hate us, Klark."
"No," Clarke sighed.
"I do not force her now. She agrees. She understands, Klark."
"That makes one of us."
Ontari glanced toward the stairs and dropped her hand. She opened the door and followed Clarke down the hall. Clarke knocked on the door to Miller's room, and it opened immediately.
"Hey, Clarke," Monroe greeted her. "Commander."
"Hey, Monroe. Who's here?"
"Me, Sora, a couple guards."
"Where are Miller and Bryan? Where's Harper?"
"They're in my room waiting for you guys."
Ontari turned around and told one of the guards to get them.
"It's gonna be crowded in here."
"Not for long," Clarke said.