Clarke went first to Raven's workshop. She was on her stool, bent over studying something on the table in front of her. "Hey, where are the minions?"

"Scavenging in the market."

"Speaking of scavenging, Ontari said you're going back to Arcadia."

"Yeah, they had a chip maker and if I'm lucky all my tools are still in my workshop. Plus there should be other stuff we can use."

"When are you leaving?"

"Tomorrow morning."

"Be careful."

"I will. Anything you want me to say to Octavia?"

"She won't listen, Raven. She thinks I betrayed all of you. She thought when I didn't leave with her, I was staying with Lexa."

"Were you?"

"No. I was maybe an hour behind her."

"Are you ever going to tell me what happened?"

"Not today." Clarke blinked back tears and took a deep breath. "Let me know if you need anything before you go."

"Will do."

"See you later," Clarke said and left. She walked through the market toward the tower, but didn't enter. She stopped in the garden, found a quiet corner and sat on the grass.

She remembered seeing Lexa meditate, calm in the chaos that swirled around them. It amazed Clarke then, and she could use some calm now, so she arranged herself comfortably and closed her eyes. It took a long time to clear her mind.

Murphy nudged her thigh with his foot. "You have a really comfortable bed if you need a nap, Princess."

"What time is it?"

"Almost time for you to meet with Skaikru. I talked to Raven for you. She's going to be there."

"Thanks, Murphy." Clarke stood, ignoring the pins and needles in her legs.

"Didja have any astonishing visions?"

"No. I was trying to meditate and I fell asleep."

"Well come and grab something to eat before you talk to them."

They entered the tower and climbed the stairs to the Azgeda suite. Ontari and Raven were setting up a chess game. A plate waited in Clarke's usual seat and Murphy poured her some watered down wine.

While Clarke ate, Murphy sharpened his dagger. Raven and Ontari debated opening moves. When she finished her meal, Murphy said, "It's time."

The three Skaikru left Ontari sitting at the table. The took the lift to spare Raven the climb up several flights of stairs.

When they reached Skaikru's floor, everyone was lounging in the doorways. Miller greeted Clarke. "There's no room big enough for all of us, so I figured the hallway would work. He pulled a crate into the center of the corridor and offered his arm to stead Clarke when she climbed onto it.

"Hey, listen up," Miller yelled, and all the chatter ended. People came out of their rooms into the hall.

"Hi, everybody. I know I haven't been here to see you as much as I should have, and I apologize for that," Clarke began. "Just so you know, I'm trying to get some land for us to live on. Heda said she'll allow us to stay together if I can find a place we can live. It won't be Arkadia. In the meantime, if there's something you can do, or want to learn to do, find somebody in Polis to teach you. It will take some work on your part, but the payoff will be worth it."

"Like what?" somebody asked from the back of the crowd.

"I don't know. It's up to you. Just walk around and look at the things people are doing. Talk to them." Clarke waited for more questions and when no one spoke, continued. "There are two other things we need to talk about. The first is about those of you who had A.L.I.E.'s chips. I'm going to let Raven explain the issue, and then I'll talk about the solution. After that, we need to talk about Jaha. Raven."

"I'm not getting up on that box, so if you can't hear me, now's the time to speak up." No one did. "I'll try to keep this simple. The chips integrated with our spinal columns and lower brains with tiny, microscopic threads, or filaments. When Clarke and Dr. Griffin removed the chips, they didn't get all the pieces because they are so small and hard to see without magnification. Problem is, as long as those bits are still in you, there's a chance that A.L.I.E. can still control you. And before you ask, no there's not enough for us to go back to the City of Light.

"We found out how to control the chips, how to turn off what's left. That's what Clarke wants to talk to you about."

"I'll be honest," Clarke began. "I was just going to drug all of you and do what has to be done. Miller and Harper said I should talk to you. So here's the deal. There's a phrase that turns the chips off and on. We used it on Jaha and Raven. Raven was awake, so she knows what the phrase is. I drugged Jaha because I don't want him to know it. He still has a chip, and he still communicates with A.L.I.E., and that makes him dangerous.

"So I want to know, if I say the words to turn off what's left, are you going to want to turn them back on?"

The people in the hall began talking quietly to each other. Clarke gave them a few minutes, and Murphy let out a deafening whistle to silence them.

"Tell you what," Clarke said. "Think about it. Talk to each other. If you want A.L.I.E. out of your head for good, come to see me and I'll say the words, but you have to promise that you won't repeat them.

"That brings us to the final topic: Thelonious Jaha. He needs to be brought to justice for all that he's done. I'm going arrange for a place big enough for all of us to meet and we're going to have a trial."

"Like the ones on the Ark?"

"Yes and no. Yes, in that he'll be told of what he's accused of and allowed to defend himself. No because it's not a foregone conclusion that he'll be executed. So think about that, too. Anyone have anything to add?"

When no one did, Clarke said, "I'll be around." She used Murphy's shoulder as a balance when she stepped down from the crate. "Thanks, Miller," she said before she left. "I'll let you know when and where the trial will be."

"OK, Clarke. Thanks for giving them a choice."

"I hope they make the right one."

100 – 100 – 100

Ontari was reading when they returned. "Drink?" Murphy asked Clarke.

"Yeah."

"How did it go?" Ontari asked.

"Don't know yet."

"I do not understand why you do not order them to do what you want."

"That's not how we do things. In theory, the Ark was a representative democracy, so power flowed up from the people. We elected our leaders based on what they said they would do. If we didn't like how they acted while in power, somebody else was elected the next time."

"It makes no sense."

Clarke shrugged and accepted the mug from Murphy. He gave one to Ontari and Raven, as well, before sitting near Clarke and putting the bottle between them.

"So you're leaving for Arcadia tomorrow," Clarke said to Raven.

"I am going with her."

"What about the Nightbloods?"

"They are coming, too. It will do them good to get out of the city."

"Won't they slow you down?"

"No," Ontari said firmly.

Raven sniffed the mug and took a sip. She pushed it over to Murphy. Ontari gave hers to Clarke.

"I can do what you want, Clarke. I can duplicate the chips in the Commander and Titus. I'm still working out how to separate Lexa from the rest of the data. The Commander said the goal is for her to come back here and be the Flamekeeper, which means she accepts the chip that Titus has now, so I need to figure how two can co-exist with one as primary and the other as secondary. I still don't know where you're going to get a body, though."

"I think that answer is at the City of Light."

"While you guys are gone, I'm going to see if I can find the boat," Murphy said.

"Guess I'll hold down the fort," Clarke said.

"You will go with Murphy," Ontari said.

"Why?"

"It is safer for you to be outside the walls with him than here alone."

"I'm not alone, Heda, and Skaikru has things to do as a group."

"Without Raven and Murphy?"

"Sha." Clarke looked at Raven. "Guilty or not?"

"Totally guilty. Float him. And float him again."

"Murphy."

"Crazy but guilty. He should have a slow, painful death."

"Noted," Clarke said, and looked at Ontari. "I want to deal with him sooner rather than later. The longer he sits down there, the more dangerous he is."

"Then we will postpone our departure until that is settled. What do you need?"

"A room big enough to hold all of us and some time."

"Use the feast room. Can you do this tomorrow?"

"Yes," Clarke said. "Murphy, will you go let Miller know to gather everyone there after breakfast?"

Murphy emptied his mug. "On it, boss."

"I'll go talk to my mother and Marcus," Clarke said with a sigh and emptied her mug. She followed Murphy out the door.

"Why isn't Clarke safe here?" Raven asked.

"Many blame her for Heda Leksa's death."

"She didn't kill her, did she?"

"No."

"Why won't anyone tell me what happened?"

"Until everything is settled, the fewer who know, the better. Titus has a great deal of power."

"We can take his chip without killing him, you know."

"How?"

"It's in the journal, where she talks about activating and deactivating the second generation chips. It's not necessary to cut you to put them in or take them out, as long as you know the phrase."

"Do you know it?"

"I'm still working that out," Raven admitted.

"Even without the chip, Titus is dangerous. Clarke does not always stop to think things through before acting. If she is here alone, she will be tempted to go to him."

"So you're sending her with Murphy for her own safety."

"Sha. Klark is too important to risk, as you are."

"You and the Nightbloods are going as my personal guards?" Raven asked with amusement.

"Sha. And it will be good for them to get out of Polis for a few days."

Raven nodded while she suppressed her laughter. "You start tonight, Commander."