Raven woke first. She sat up and stretched, then looked around. Abby and Murphy looked back. Raven looked at Clark, saw traces of the tears she shed in the City of Light, and sighed. She moved her hair away from her neck and said, "Quaere superna."
Murphy caught the chip before it slid down into her shirt. He presented it to Raven, who shook her head. The three of them sat, waiting for Clarke to wake. After many minutes, Raven shook her. "Clarke, you have to come back."
"No," Clarke said, her eyes still closed. "Don't take her again."
Raven answered, "Et nos unum sumus."
Clarke turned and glared at her, but didn't repeat the trigger phrase. She reached behind her head and pulled the chip from her neck. Murphy offered its tin. Clarke looked at the small thing in her hand for several moments before securing it and handing the tin to Abby. She stood and walked out the room. They heard her footsteps speed up as they echoed in the hallway.
"I'll keep an eye on her," Murphy said and left.
"Did you get what you need?" Abby asked Raven.
"Yeah."
"Why was Clarke crying?"
"Long story," Raven sighed again. "I'll tell you what happened after I verify everything."
100 – 100 – 100
"It is nearly time."
Ontari paced in her rooms. "What will happen?"
"You must meditate. We will meet Clarke and Raven. We must protect them."
Ontari didn't answer. Instead, she opened the drapes and sat in a patch of sun on the worn carpet. She calmed herself, slowed her thoughts, and slipped into the City of Light.
It was astonishing, completely unlike anyplace Ontari had seen or dreamed of. Lexa strode across the plaza to meet her. Ontari lowered her head and said, "Heda."
Lexa did the same.
"What is this place?"
"The City of Light. Raven and Clarke will be here soon."
"Why would they come here?
"There is something here they need."
"What?"
"I do not know. I know that they are coming soon. We must wait here for them."
Ontari nodded and looked around again, and another time. She saw Raven loping across the plaza and smiled at her approach. She looked like herself, but different. It took Ontari a few seconds to realize that she wasn't wearing her brace or limping. As Raven came closer, Ontari saw that the ever present indicators of pain weren't on Raven's face, and she smiled.
Raven smiled back, and threw her arms around Ontari when they met. "I'm so glad you're here."
"Likewise," Ontari answered before kissing her.
Lexa smiled at them and looked for Clarke. She grew more anxious as she waited and began to pace while Raven and Ontari looked at Beka Pramheda's journal, Raven's fingers tracking lines of code and instruction
Ontari looked around, checking that they were safe, and saw Clarke in the distance. "Heda," she said, and pointed.
"Mochof," Lexa answered, her eyes fixed on Clarke's approach. She knew she had been selfish, forcing herself through Ontari to spend precious moments with the other woman. Seeing Clarke again through her own eyes was better by orders of magnitude.
Raven and Ontari gave them time to greet each other before they set out. Ontari looked around constantly, taking in the scenery, keeping an eye out for danger, and watching Raven move freely. She was happy and relaxed for the first time since Raven left. She covertly watched Clarke and Lexa, too. It was the first time Ontari saw Clarke look happy, and it transformed the blonde.
For half a second, Ontari wished she could be the one who made Clarke look like that. Then she looked at Raven, reading as they walked. Raven felt her watching, glanced over, and winked at Ontari, who couldn't stop the smile that came onto her face.
It wasn't until she was awake in her room, the sunlight gone, that Ontari realized that the best thing about the City of Light was that she was alone in her head
100 – 100 – 100
Clarke ran up the final flight of stairs, through the corridor, and out the door. She kept running until she couldn't, and dropped to her knees. She panted, chest heaving, and wept like she did in the prison cell, Lexa's absence again fresh. She hadn't wanted to leave the City of Light or surrender the chip, the one that would be Lexa's and now held a small piece of Clarke.
She didn't hear Murphy's approach. He stayed near enough to watch her, but didn't get any closer once he heard her. Clarke's grief brought back all of the horror of his first visit to Polis, most clearly her anguished cries in the dark cells. It wasn't something he would wish on anyone except maybe Titus, and Murphy doubted he could feel anything so deeply.
He waited until Clarke was quiet to come near, and made certain she could hear him. Leaves crackled under his feet. He squatted beside her and waited for Clarke to acknowledge him.
"I saw her," Clarke choked out after a few minutes. "I touched her. She was alive." She gasped, inhaling unevenly. "I had to leave her."
Murphy didn't say anything. He had no idea what would be appropriate or helpful, so he stayed where he was and waited for Clarke to speak again.
She stayed there for a long time while she put herself back in order. It was harder than it had ever been, even though Lexa had not said goodbye, instead repeating her promise that they would be together soon. It was twilight before Clarke forced herself upright. Murphy didn't offer help or speak. She was glad he was near, though if it had been anyone else, she would have resented their hovering.
100 – 100 – 100
Raven went over everything three times. The last time, she made herself compare the code character by character. She didn't want to let Clarke down. After seeing her with Lexa, she realized how much Clarke relied on Lexa's promise.
This visit to the City of Light lifted Raven's spirits, too. She missed Ontari more than she thought she would. Seeing the other woman and spending the small amount of time with her helped Raven focus on what she was doing. She was certain now that they could recreate Lexa. She didn't care what word they used for the miracle they were about to pull off, just that it worked like it was supposed to.
Before she pushed the button that would compile the code, Raven took a deep breath. After this, nearly everything to come would be Abby's responsibility. She traced everything again in her mind to make certain it was correct and pushed the key.
A.L.I.E. flickered into existence beside her chair. "Raven, what have you done?"
Raven ignored her. She left the room and went to another. A.L.I.E. trailed her and watched Raven search desks until she found the last thing she needed. She went in search of Abby and had the older woman follow her to the tank room.
"Pick one," Raven said.
Abby looked at A.L.I.E. "What about her?"
"Who?"
Abby pointed at A.L.I.E.
"Don't worry about the artifact," Raven said. "Pick one."
"The third one," Abby decided.
Raven went to the pedestal in front of the tank and inserted a card into the slot. She tapped a password, using the symbol marked keys. Quiet motors started and the card ejected. "Abracadabra," Raven said.
"What?"
"Now we wait."
"What are we waiting for?"
"Lexa."
"You will not do that, Raven," A.L.I.E. said.
"Bitch, you're locked out. This is my system now. Go sulk somewhere else."
A.L.I.E. tilted her head to the side for a few seconds, then disappeared.
"I'm gonna get rid of her if it's the last damn thing I do," Raven said.
"Will you please tell me what's going on?" Abby demanded, her tone exasperated.
"We're bringing Lexa back from the City of Light."
100 – 100 – 100
Clarke sat on with her back to the lighthouse wall and looked up at the sky. Murphy sat nearby and waited for Clarke to talk. He knew she would. As the moon rose, she told him about the City of Light. He listened intently as she recounted nearly everything that happened there.
When he was certain she was finished, he hauled her up. The night was cold, and he had limits. For once, Clarke didn't argue, and that worried Murphy.
100 – 100 – 100
Because she wanted to keep an eye on things, Raven stayed in the tank room. Abby stayed with her because Raven was, finally, explaining everything. After the sixth time Raven shushed her, Abby stopped interrupting to tell Raven that what they were doing was impossible and began to listen.
When Raven finished talking, Abby was astonished. She was still uncertain that they would succeed, but Raven was positive enough for all of them. Raven monitored the machinery and Abby had her explain every action.
Neither of them know how many hours passed, but Raven was nearly ready to find someplace to crash for a few hours when the pedestal beeped. She jumped up to see why. Abby read the message over Raven's shoulder and looked at the tank. Abby gasped. Raven looked, too, and let out a whoop when she saw the small form floating in the previously empty tank.
After half an hour, Abby sent Raven off to get some rest. She promised to get her if anything happened. Raven's compromise was to bring her furs and sleep on a bench in the hallway outside the tank room.
100 – 100 – 100
When she finally fell asleep, Clarke slept deeply and without dreams. Murphy was up first and prepared food. He let Clarke continue to sleep. It was the longest she'd been out since they arrived, and she undoubtedly needed the rest. It was almost mid-day before she stirred.
Clarke sat up and stretched. Murphy handed her a mug of hot broth.
"Heard anything?" Clarke asked.
"Not yet."
"I'm going up there."
"At least eat first."
"My mom's here, you know."
"Yeah, but you don't listen to her," he answered. "Finish that and wash up. By the time you're done, I'll have something ready." When Clarke hesitated, he said, "Heda and Roan are still looking for reasons to kick my ass."
Clarke smiled faintly and got up to do as he asked.
When she finished eating, she set out for the gleaming white building. As always, Clarke ignored A.L.I.E.'s greeting and headed downstairs. Her first stop was the computer lab where Raven spent most of her time, but it was empty.
As she neared the tank room, she heard voices and walked a little faster. From the doorway, she saw Raven and Abby bent over the pedestal in front of one of the tanks. "Everything OK?"
Abby walked to her. "Everything is fine, sweetheart. Did you sleep well?"
Clarke tried to get past her, but Abby didn't budge.
"Clarke, I asked you a question."
"I'm fine, Mom. What's going on?"
"Raven left the pedestal and slowly walked to the doorway. "Everything's good, Clarke. Promise."
"You're sure?"
"I'm sure. There's not a lot to see right now, but things are happening in the correct order at the correct time."
"How long?"
"I don't know," Abby answered. "But I'll make sure you're here."
Raven nodded to reinforce Abby's message. "Go do something. I won't let you miss anything important." Raven held her right hand up. "I promise," she said sincerely.
After a few seconds, Clarke said, "OK," before leaving.