"C'mon," Clarke said impatiently.

"Where are we going?"

"Raven said she felt a tickle, which suggests that there's still a bit of that thing in her. Marcus is pretty sure Jaha took another chip. If we can turn it off in him, we can turn off anything that's left in the rest of them."

"What's to stop him from just saying the words to turn it on again?"

Clarke stopped so quickly Murphy almost walked into her back. "Skrish. I need to think about this. Put that back, stay with Raven. I have another meeting. I'll be there as soon as I can."

This meeting was much shorter and more productive. Clarke breezed through the niceties before asking the Boudalan ambassador, "Are you interested in a trade or just gossip?"

"Is there some reason we can't do both?"

"There are many reasons. If you wish to trade, make an offer for Azgeda furs. If you wish to gossip, I have other things to do."

"You are always so busy, Wanheda."

"I am. Please don't waste my time."

"I have sent the agreement to Azgeda."

"Thank you. Haihefa Roan thanks you. I will tell Heda of your cooperation."

"Remember Azgeda's friends. That is the thanks we need."

"Done." Clarke stood and gave a small bow. "Until next time."

"Perhaps you will say longer then."

Clarke gave him a tight smile and showed herself out.

100 – 100 – 100

The Natblida recited their lessons to Ontari. They were all a bit restless. Their ordered days were suddenly unstructured. The hours spent listening to Titus were yet to be filled with other duties, and there was only so much weapons training they could do each day.

When they finished, Ontari sat up. "What should we do today?"

Fair answered first. "Library. We should go to the library."

"Why?"

"We still have much to learn, Heda, and that is where the books are."

Ontari sighed.

"We can pick a book and take turns reading aloud."

"Heda used to read to us as a treat," Aden volunteered.

Ontari nodded slowly, made her decision, and stood. The Natblida scrambled to their feet. "To the library. We will find a story to share."

100 – 100 – 100

Clarke sat in the garden behind the Tower considering how she could say the words to turn off any remaining bits of A.L.I.E.'s chips without being heard. She decided that she would have to knock all of them out again. She had precious little of the sedative left from her trip, not nearly enough to do what had to be done.

She walked toward the hospital, and along the way saw Ontari leading the Natblida through Polis, away from the Tower.

Clarke went directly to Nyko. "I need your help."

"If I can."

"I need to put a bunch of people to sleep for a while."

"Why?"

"It's a long story, Nyko."

"Do they all have to sleep at once?"

"It would be easier."

"I can make some sleep aids, but it will take time."

"I need it now."

"I cannot help you. Perhaps one of the Azgeda healers knows of something."

"Maybe. Thanks. I appreciate your help."

100 – 100 – 100

The Azgeda healer Roan left with Ontari didn't ask Clarke why she needed to render a group of people unconscious. His questions were more to Clarke's liking. How many people? Out for how long? She left with a small pouch of vials, instructions, and a plan. Another set of vials was specifically for Jaha, to knock him out and bring him back to consciousness in a short period.

Clarke ran for her next meeting, apologized for being late, declined a drink, and got to the point. The Ouskejon ambassador had been warned that Clarke wanted an answer, and made a counteroffer. Clarke countered once, and the next offer was acceptable. They sat at opposite sides of the table and wrote it out, signed the pages, and swapped them. After quickly reading to ensure it said what it was supposed to, they countersigned. Clarke tucked the sheet into her satchel and stood up. "Mochof."

"There are other things I would like to discuss."

"I have other obligations, but if you could put it in writing," Clarke suggested.

"It is delicate."

"The border."

"Sha."

"You want access to the resources, not the land or the people. Make a written offer. No one other than Haihefa Roan and myself will see it."

"Those are our ancestral lands."

"The people are Azgedakru. Whatever claim you had three generations ago is long gone. As I said, I have other obligations."

"I will delay you no longer."

"Mochof," Clarke repeated. She waited until her back was turned to roll her eyes.

100 – 100 – 100

The common room was empty when Clarke returned to the Azgeda suite, but she heard voices from Raven's room. Raven sat on the side of her bed. Murphy was in a chair near her. They both looked at Clarke when she entered.

"We've been talking about Jaha and the chips and what you need to do," Murphy said.

"And?"

"A.L.I.E. doesn't need to be near Jaha for you to know whether you turned off his chip."

"OK."

"So you can go down and do that whenever. The others are gonna be trickier," Raven continued. "We don't want them to know the control phrase, but you can't just drug them for no reason."

"Wine," Murphy suggested. "Send them a bunch of wine with something in it. Once you're sure it works with Jaha, you can set it up with Miller. Once they're all out, they can go around and whisper it so you're not constantly turning them off and on."

"Sneaky. Nice," Raven approved.

"I'll have to check whether it's ok to use with alcohol," Clarke answered.

"Or you can go straightforward, get them in one place and say the magic words. Work them into a speech or something. Or have Miller bring them in one by one and say them."

"We don't want them to know it."

"Then go with sneaky."

"Let me see what happens with Jaha first. I'll be back soon," Clarke said.

Clarke's guards followed her down to the basement. She was glad they were there. If Jaha put up a fight, they could restrain him.

She stood outside his cell and watched for minute. Jaha's eyes were closed and there was a smile on his face. She rattled the door. After a moment, Jaha opened his eyes. "Clarke, I didn't expect to see you again."

"Come here, please."

He slowly stood and stretched before coming to the bars. He stayed a foot away from the doors.

Clarke pulled the vial from her pocket and showed it to him. "You can swallow this or they can make you. Your choice."

"I can't do that, Clarke."

Clarke stepped away from the door. The jail guard opened the door and her guards followed him into the cell. They put Jaha on his knees and tilted his head back. One held his mouth open. Clarke poured the contents of the vial into his mouth. The guards immediately held it closed. One covered his nose. In the end, Jaha had to swallow.

Clarke and the guards left the cell. The jail guard locked it again and Clarke sent all of them to the entrance where they could see but not hear what she was going to say. The sedative acted quickly, and within minutes, Jaha was out. Clarke said, "Quaere superna."

Then she waited.

Nearly an hour later, Jaha began to wake. He sat up and looked around the cell. When he saw Clarke, Jaha said, "Damn you."

"You're free of her. You'll be put on trial in a few days."

"You're going to put me on trial."

"Yeah."

"And then kill me."

Clarke shrugged. "If that's what Skaikru decides. If another of those chips turns up in Polis, inside or outside you, there won't be a trial."

"So you're like these savages now?"

"No, I learned that lesson on the Ark," Clarke answered and walked away.